As regards tt's, go and listen so some top flight rigs. Decide for yourself which drive technology gives you your preferred sonic result (belt-, idler-, or direct-drive). Then listen to a few more tt's that use your preferred drive system. Then, maybe you can ask here for opinions to help you decide among 3-4 possible choices. Otherwise, you can be prepared for the hugely divergent personal opinions of a bunch of audiophiles. And you know what audiophiles are like, me included. What I own is obviously the best.
By the way also, you cannot really divorce your choice of cartridge from your choice of tonearm. So I would choose tt first, then tonearm/cartridge as a unit. You have asked a very complex question with nearly infinite variables, but that will not stop others from telling you what to do.
By the way also, you cannot really divorce your choice of cartridge from your choice of tonearm. So I would choose tt first, then tonearm/cartridge as a unit. You have asked a very complex question with nearly infinite variables, but that will not stop others from telling you what to do.