Looking to get TT

curiously, I have just added phono to my Cd setup.
I found an Audio Research phono (PH1) and got it last week. beautiful! (I couldn't add anything but a separate phono pre pre to my setup) I have borrowed back a Dual 502 I found at a second hand store that I had given to my best friend. All because I had the good fortune to find a big pile of good LPs for a very low price. So I decided it was worth going back to Lps.
I am very happy with the PH1, and plan on either a Rega, or a MMF. The MMf 5 or 7 are pretty good. I spent $432. on the PH1 and it will last (for me) forever. The TT within the $1000. range would be the MMF 5 or a used Rega Planar 3, or P3 with the Rega 300 tonearm. (for me, it depends on the position of the Sun and Moon??? as to which TT I get)
Personally I would go for the MMF7, which is like $850. to $900. new right now, and get a skimpy $100 used phono pre pre. As then you can get the card for your amp in the future, and will have a great TT. A lot of folks are talking about the MMF TT's and the guy who designed them is well know in the audio community. (I was worried it was a here today, gone tomorrow sort of thing, but have been assured that it is a good product.)
Then you WOULd have a TT good for a long time, and when you got your phono card, perfecto!!!

About the part where you ask if you will have a good sounding TT for many years, if you are like most audiophiles, you will be upgrading in about six months to a year anyway. If you have not had a TT before, once you hear analog, you will be looking at higher end rigs. Any of the above mentioned rigs will get your feet wet, and are good quality items. I wouldn't worry too much about overall longevity of the product. I have never seen an audiophile own something long enough to wear it out yet.

I just moved up from a $200 table to a sota. Wow, what a difference. You have a nice system and will easily hear the difference. Someone told me the same thing when I got back into LPs. Get a nice used table (VPI, Sota or...) with whatever cartridge and tonearm for now. It will be much easier to upgrade your phono pre in the future than change cartrigdes or tonearms, let alone tables.

You can find a sota saphire for under $800 and get a parasound p/ph100 used for $99.

Enjoy the difference. I can't stand cd quality now!

Twl, After reading many post on TT it seems like your one of the guru on TT here and was wondering your thoughts on maybe MMF-5 with grado phono or MMF-7 with grado phono, or do you think I'm wasting my time with these types of TT. My digital is pretty good and hope my first TT can be close to my digital set up!
I listen to jazz and classic rock and want a table that can give good bass, lush mids and not brigh highs!
I know I'm asking alot but I hope I wont be disapointed if I go with the MMF-5 or 7. Down the road I will be installing a phono card in my CP-60 or step into a nice dedicated Phono pre. I pretty much want a TT that is more plug N play with not alot of messing around with but maybe upgradable in the future! Happy Listening!

I think the MMF 5 or 7 are good tables, and should surpass your digital rig - at least somewhat. I think they come pacakaged with a phono cartridge already installed, so they should be easy to get up and running. The Goldring cartridges that come with the tables are good cartridges of the MM type. The MMF tables tend to sound a little warm, and should be just what you are looking for, as far as the tonal qualities are concerned. I'd say it would be a good choice in your price range. I've heard some say that the 5 is good enough that spending more on the 7 might not be worth the extra dough.

I don't know about the Grado phono stage. I haven't used it. I have read about it, and the innovations in it may be quite good. At least it seems interesting.

Hard to go too far wrong with what you mentioned. Just remember that cartridges and tonearm cables take a little time to break in, so don't be too judgmental until after 30 hours or so, of play.