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Turntable setup under $2000?

I'm interested in knowing peoples opinions on the best complete turntable setups (could be used) in the $1500-$2000 range (including deck,arm and cartridge).

I'm a total tt newbie, but would like to start off with a somewhat decent tt setup that would last a long time without feeling the need to upgrade.

I listen to mostly rock/pop type music, largely from the 60'/70's/80's, but also enjoi disco and female vocals as Adele.I would like a setup to suit such tastes.Want to have deeper bass, especially for early Beatles albums.
My current system: amp: YBA Integre DT, Loudspeakers Polk Audio LSI15, CD player Exposure 3010

Any advice would be much appreciated.
rockstream

Showing 2 responses by rockstream

rockstream OP
3 posts
 
Thank you guys , for your help, very much appreciate! Now need some more advice:
I managed to auditioned Music Hall MMF2.2 with Music Hall Tracker cartridge =$525, J.A. Michell Tecnodec with RB250 Special arm and ClearAudio Aurum Beta cartridge=$2900, and Rega RP3 with Elys2 cart =$1395 at my home with my YBA Integre + PolkAudio LSI15.
Music Hall gives neutral, good sound, with gentle and deep bass, but lacks details. I decided to take it as a zero point. Then TecnoDec produces very nice, detailed sound, especially in midrange and treble, but definitely lacks bass! Although this is a class-B Stereophile deck with the cartr that costs $600.
Rega RP3 sounds much louder, more detalied than Music Hall, tight bass and midrange, but sounds little bit harsh, not so pleasant as the first two.( May be those metal braces make the sound so harsh?)
So I feel very confused, I’d love to have sound of Tecnodec but with much more bass, and for less money! Is it possible?
And what really matters in case of sound quality- cartridge, tonearm, turntable?
Cause I started thinking, what if to buy good, expensive cartridge and put it on a budget turntable, or it doesn’t make any sense?
rockstream OP
3 posts
 
Thanks for help,guys, very much appreciated.
And as I’m diving deeper into analog, and ready to spend up to 2500 for TT set up, have some more questions:
Pro-Ject RPM9.2 evolution witn Ortofon 2M Black=$600 sounds very, very nice, detailed, open, but still lacks bass in comparison with Music Hall MMF2.2 with Tracker=$100 or Rega RP3 with Elys 2
Pro-Ject RPM5.1 with Ortofon 2M red=$99, sounds as very budget MMF2.2, just louder in high frequencies.
I noticed, that output was different, so I adjusted the volume.

Pro-Ject RPM 9.2 sounds close to Michell Tecnodec with ClearAudio Aurum Beta cart, but more enjoyable personally.
So questions:
1: why budget Tracker or Elys 2 give more powerful and deeper bass than more expensive carts?
2: What TT is the best from: Pro-Ject RPM9.2 Evolution, VPI Scout / JMW or Thorens TD309?
3: Can I use the same cartridges for VPI Scout unipivot JMW tonearm and let say Pro-Ject or Thorenc classic tonearms?
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