I recently purchased a TT setup from a dealer in CA that has a fairly large inventory of a variety of turntable/accessories and manufacturers. I also liked their website in that it was easy to navigate. I spent a lot of time looking at different manufacturers and reading a lot professional and amateur reviews (HA! Not many bad reviews of anything out there!) It was a good way of, at least, becoming familiar with what’s out there. I was getting back into analog and critically listening to music for enjoyment once again after 25 years! I was into home theater for much of that time. Anyway, spent a lot of time looking at stuff and doing some reading. I enjoy the process!
If I were to make some suggestions: I wouldn’t select a system based on the size of your vinyl collection. There still so many pieces of vinyl out there on the market in good to excellent condition! There’s probably100 times that much sitting unused in peoples basements. I pulled that estimate out of the air; who really knows! When I bought my TT set up six months ago ($10,000) I only had 275 albums in my collection. I’ve acquired a few more since then and I have been pleased at the condition of vinyl out there. Have fun listening and getting new! I forgot how exciting it was to pick out an album and hurry home to listen to it! Check out discogs.com. It’s an online clearing-house comprised of buyers and sellers. Also I’ve had luck at the lady at the farmers market who specializes in vinyl, per say. She has a picker who buys the for her, and she puts them into boxes and lays them out. The only form of separation is condition. Trash goes out front and the rest in the back. You’re on your own after that!
I stop at garage sales and ask if they have any albums. Never have I seen albums as part of the sale. It’s amazing how many people have them sitting in their basement but never put them out or say, "I don’t have any but my father has a stack!". Sometimes it’s because they never thought of it or they want to keep them.
Anyway, I spent 10k on my set up and don’t regret it for a second. I am loving what I’m hearing.
Whatever you do, give the cartridge great consideration! Excluding the vinyl, the cartridge is where any and all sonic quality begins (it ends with your speakers).
I would try to get a 13K system for your $1k by taking advantage of dealer discounts and dealer discounts on discontinued items. I got a discontinued Soundsmith cartridge, that for years, retailed at $4K. The was selling them for $2k. I got a discontinued VPI turntable on sale and had the dealer swap out the existing tonearm (for a credit) and upgraded to a better tonearm (for an up-charge). I got the Manley Chinook phono-stage on sale. In addition, the dealer set-up the tonearm, mounted and aligned the cartridge.
I’m not sure if you can name dealers that you purchased equipment from, so I’ll refrain from doing so.
I’m in a similar situation you are as far as auditioning things. As a result, I didn’t audition any of my TT setup.
Whatever you get, I'm sure you'll love it! Enjoy the ride!
