Well it all started with my wife getting all of her dad's old records as well as his TT but the TT didn't make it from storage (Technics SL-B2). So I started scouring around the forums trying to put together a nice budget setup. At first I wanted new gear but was recommended to search the used market as gems could be found.

So low and behold upon searching craigslist one day I came upon a man selling a lot of his gear so I called him up. Well needless to say I pretty much scored the deal of the century with the following:

Epos ELS-3 w/ ST35 stands
Rega Planar 2 TT w/ RB300 arm and AT140 cart
Price paid: $500

The speakers look brand new and the TT is in excellent condition. It was an older man who was loved his gear but had to part with it because he had to move. For right now I will be powering everything with an old Sony AVR until I can save some money to get some very nice electronics worthy of this gear. Now the Sony AVR does not have a phono input so I need a preamp. Wife says I can spend $250 max on a preamp so I want something that will last me after I get my new electronics. Right now I am leaning very heavily on the Parasound P3 preamp with the A23 amp so would like something that would be a good match. I have been looking around but don't really know what's good (Music Hall Bellari vp125?).