Man if you think that's hard buy a modern receiver - they have about 10 different surround sound modes and keeping up with it all is nuts.

For most turntable users with normal budgets moving magnet (MM) cartridges is what we have (inexpensive Moving coil cartridges are not very good and not better than MM - which is the main reason AN's least expensive MC cartridge is over $3,000.

One thing that I like about my new turntable is that the company is pretty friendly to people with not a lot of money. Because it is based off of Systemdek turntables which you may remember from the 70's and 80s, anyone who wants to buy an old model for a $100 at a garage sale or used record shop is pretty much buying a TT1. You can then buy the current platter for under $100 and have someone do some of the upgrades for cheap. Nice way to get a current $2k rig for far less money. Lots of upgradeability is possible.

Never knock the vintage stuff - I am not as knowledgable about tables as some but there are gold mines out there if you have the time and inclination to look. Systemdek, certain Thorens, Linn, Voyd, Haybrook (sp? which the Linn and Systemdeks were based on), etc.

There's always the Rega P3 which is one of the most popular and affordable turntables around.