u/Fondant_Rich

TT newb here, appreciate your recommendations!

Been trying to prevent this forever but finally bitten by the vinyl itch... help recommend a turntable setup that won't make me go back to my digital and hi-res files!

Background: I've been into 2-channel stereo/headphone audio for almost a decade+ and all this time playing/streaming digital files/hi-res and been happy changing upgrading gear while enjoying my music. I've never dabbled into vinyl. But now I figured just like food, I don't think I could gauge/assess if I like vinyl without sampling it full flavour. So I want to experience this full analog goodness!

So after reading a bunch of guides/reviews and watching too many YT reviews I think I'm finally ready to dive (head first) into the vinyl and turntable world.

Help me choose a worth TT/cart and phono combo that does vinyl justice and compliments my existing setup. Have a rough budget in mind but I have some flexibility. Appreciate your recommendations!

Budget:

TT: $800-1000 USD

Phono: $500-750 USD

Current system audio chain (for digital/stream):

Wiim Ultra > SMSLPO100 >Denafrips Ares 12th-1 > Schiit Freya Tube Pre > Choco Sound Emei amp > Buchardt Audio S400 SE (upgraded crossovers) and switchup to KEF LS50 occasionally.

Sidenote: I think I'll want to experiment with different carts so will having the ability to adjust VTA and azimuth be important? Upgrade path preferred!

I swapped out of my old and beloved Marantz SR5012 for my home theater to this newer TX-RZ30 because of specifically 2 reasons: eARC and Dirac Live.

Now eARC is so finicky i want to throw this AVR at the wall!

My RZ30 is paired with my Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED and I can get eARC to work but then it'll stop working randomly sometimes within the same sitting session if say I walk away from watching YT for a bit and come back, now the next vid won't have sound. It'll come back on if i fidddle with the Sony Audio settings again to turn off arc and then back on 50% of the time. Sometimes when I turn on the TV the next day it's broken again and I have no sound. It's more problematic than a 2 year old child!

I've gone through the guides , I've used 2 different sets of high end cables. It will work, but it never stays working for long.

What gives Onkyo!? I loved your products in the past.

Any help appreciated!