I would recommend raising the budget to $2000 so that you have more choices.
That said, here’s a few different options I would personally recommend at each price point:
Audio-Technica AT-LP60X ($130)
+ Edifier R1280T ($90 on sale)
Total cost: < $250
This might be one of the cheapest yet ok sounding setups you can go for with Audio-Technica’s cheapest turntables along with Edifier (one of the best value speaker brands on the market). No phono preamp needed as AT turntable has it built in.
Denon DP-300F ($300)
+ Audioengine A2 Plus ($200 on sale)
Total cost: $500
This is the logical next step upgrade, for double the cost of the previous setup you get a decent sounding Denon turntable, with some pretty solid value AudioEngine powered speakers. No phono preamp needed as Denon turntable has it built in.
Fluance RT85 ($500)
+ Klipsch the Fives ($400 on sale)
Total cost: $900
I honestly think this is one of the best sounding < $1k value turntable setups you can get. The Fluance RT85 is excellent price/performance ratio (includes a $200 Ortofon Blue cartridge) and paired with one of the best deals in powered speakers Klipsch the Fives (which has built in phono preamp) and you have a very solid sub $1k turntable setup.
Pro-ject Debut Carbon Evo ($600)
+ Schiit Mani 2 preamp ($200)
+ Wiim Amp ($250 on sale)
+ Triangle Borea BR03 ($350)
Total cost: $1400
Moving up to the next level, this sub $1500 setup finally gets us a budget where we can afford separate preamps and amps. The Pro-Ject debut carbon evo has a pretty solid built in Sumiko Rainier cartridge, combined with the Schiit preamp, Wiim amp and very good value Triangle speakers I think this is one of the best sounding $1500 setups you can get on the market.
Rega Planar 3 ($1000)
+ Nagaoka MP110 ($160 on sale)
+ Cambridge Audio AXA35 ($400)
+ Monitor Audio Bronze 50 ($450)
Total cost: $2000
Raising it up to the next level, a Rega Planar 3 is considered by most one of the best turntables in the $1k range especially for the tonearm. Combine that with a solid affordable cartridge (Nagaoka MP110 or Sumiko Olympia or Ortofon Blue all work here) and a decent Cambridge amp (that has a built in preamp) and – keeping things British – a solid entry level Bronze 50s from Monitor Audio – and we have a very solid $2k setup here.
Technics SL-1500 ($1300)
+ Rotel A11 Tribute ($700 on sale)
+ KEF LS50 Meta ($1000 on sale)
Total cost: $3000
Now this is beyond the budget for sure, but just an example of the next step up you can go. Technics is well known for their direct drive turntables and the SL1500 comes with a decent Ortofon Red cartridge to boot. Pair that with the excellent Rotel A11 (with built in phono stage) and the well respected KEF LS50 Meta speakers and you have the next logical upgrade should you have the budget for it.
Thorens TD 1601 w/ TP160 tonearm ($4200)
+ Hana ML ($1200)
+ Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL ($900)
+ LEAK Stereo 230 ($1700)
+ Goldenear BRX ($2000)
Total cost: $10000
Moving into the $10k territory if you have the budget.. you get the top of the line German built Thorens, a near top of the line cartridge with the Hana ML, along with a very good preamp and amplifier, as well as the fantastic Goldenear BRX speakers
Linn Sondek LP12 ($20000)
+ Lyra Atlas ($13000)
+ Rega Aura ($6000)
+ McIntosh MA12000 ($14000)
+ MartinLogan Renaissance 15A ($28000)
Total cost: $81000
If you are a multi millionaire and have the budget to spare then this might be one of the setups you might go for. The Linn Sondek is widely regarded as one of the greatest turntable designs ever, combined that with a top of the line Lyra cartridge, a top of the line Rega preamp, a top of the line McIntosh amp, and top of the line electrostatic MartinLogan towers. This would truly be a setup that would be envied by any audiophile.
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