Go analog or upgrade digital

I have been in this hobby for over thirty years and like so many other 'audiophiles' I jumped on the 'Perfect Sound Forever' bandwagon back in the 1980's and stayed out of vinyl for many, many years. What a mistake!!! About three years ago I purchased a VPI Scout Table along with a Dynavector 20-xl cartridge to use with the phono in my Hovland HP-100 pre; what a revelation!!! From the instant the diamond hit the vinyl I knew exactly what I had been missing-out on for the last 20 years or so. Do yourself a favor and give vinyl a try. For $5k you should be able to assemble a top-notch vinyl rig that will surely please you.

The Amadeus is great table and a very good start. You could also check-out many of the used analog products listed here on Audiogon and find some sweet deals on very good used gear.

starting a record collction is exciting, heartbreaking, and expensive...and that's just 'starting'. unless you've already got a vinyl collection and/or are prepared to spend lots of bread, and then question your sanity on a daily basis, don't do it.

There is a nice used EAR 834P Deluxe for sale on Audiogon... Probably a very, very, good phono for the money...

I am with Jaybo. Media is expensive. 5k could get you going in either depending upon what you have and where you want to go. I put it into a good DAC and server though, not a CD player. IMO of course...

The CD-2 does have a digital in and very good DAC. When I listened to the FIM recordings, Getz/Gilberto and Oscar Peterson (We Get Requests) My jaw dropped. If this is what a decent vinyl rig sounds like......
My other well recorded discs sound great and I keep reading how the CD-5 is in a different league........