I also agree with Tvad, although I am a hard core vinyl-man.
Quite apart from the money pit he mentions, new vinyl pressings are often questionable in quality (full of clicks and pops) and in buying old vinyl you can never be really sure of the quality. I have to agree with Jaybo. If I were in your shoes I'd rather hold on to my money until high res. digital downloads became reality and get a music server or a suitable USB or firewire DAC for the laptop. I believe you have to spend more money than what you are prepared to spend to make LPs sound better than what you listen to now. Stickman451's advice is good, but he spent a lot more money it seems, than you are planning to. You will be opening a Pandora's box. Just my 2cents of course.
Quite apart from the money pit he mentions, new vinyl pressings are often questionable in quality (full of clicks and pops) and in buying old vinyl you can never be really sure of the quality. I have to agree with Jaybo. If I were in your shoes I'd rather hold on to my money until high res. digital downloads became reality and get a music server or a suitable USB or firewire DAC for the laptop. I believe you have to spend more money than what you are prepared to spend to make LPs sound better than what you listen to now. Stickman451's advice is good, but he spent a lot more money it seems, than you are planning to. You will be opening a Pandora's box. Just my 2cents of course.