Dolifant,
I jumped back into vinyl about eighteen months ago. I too had a modest lp collection. I bought a VPI Black Knight and fitted it with a Lyra Helikon cartridge. My phono stage was built in to my Spectron model 10 pre. I loved the performance of the Balck Knight/Helikon combo. The cartrige installation wasn't that difficult with the directions and hardware supplied by VPI. You'll need a stylus pressure guage to get the pressure right. I considered the SDS unit but never got around to buying one. After years and years with out a turntable. I thought jumping back would be very pleasurable. It was for the short term. There was no comparison in sound over cd. Vinyl just has that sweet,sweet sound! After about a year of intense labor of cleaning lps, changes lps, ect. I sold the complete unit but retained my collection of lps. I bought an Audio Aero Capitole MKII. This is really close to vinyl but not dead on. I'm happier as far as the labor load goes...............Good luck and enjoy!
I jumped back into vinyl about eighteen months ago. I too had a modest lp collection. I bought a VPI Black Knight and fitted it with a Lyra Helikon cartridge. My phono stage was built in to my Spectron model 10 pre. I loved the performance of the Balck Knight/Helikon combo. The cartrige installation wasn't that difficult with the directions and hardware supplied by VPI. You'll need a stylus pressure guage to get the pressure right. I considered the SDS unit but never got around to buying one. After years and years with out a turntable. I thought jumping back would be very pleasurable. It was for the short term. There was no comparison in sound over cd. Vinyl just has that sweet,sweet sound! After about a year of intense labor of cleaning lps, changes lps, ect. I sold the complete unit but retained my collection of lps. I bought an Audio Aero Capitole MKII. This is really close to vinyl but not dead on. I'm happier as far as the labor load goes...............Good luck and enjoy!