Hope this helps, and take the plunge you'll never look back. This will keep the total investment under $2K, and will offer mega buck performance on a budget price. Typically available on AGon used for around $600-800 for the arm, and $250-400 ish for the cartridge. Some good combos might include a Linn "Ekos" arm, along with a Shelter 501, or Ortophon Kontrapunkt cartridge. If, you choose to go with the table your talking about the price seems to be correct, and you can always build from that foundation, and sell off the current arm. (also, on the web) Brooks, is the quintessential authority on Linn tables for the past 30yrs, and will be glad to offer some valuable guiadance. (bright,soft,detailed,etc.) If your looking to get the table set up correctly?(KEY) a lot of information is available on the web, or as a suggestion. From a synergy point of view, it's probably best to stay with the Linn cartridge until you can experiment with the different flavors of colour, and sound. The phono stage, what are the gain options, and most importantly your personal tastes in sound and music. I've owned one, and had many a enjoyable evening listening to this better 90% of all the cd players out there! As for the question of Cartridges.The best choice is really dependent on the rest of the system in use. Properly set up it's very hard to beat the sound it can produce. Norm, first of all Congrats on the Linn it's a great table with a lot of soul. you just might be surprised at what you've been missing all this time. I think that once you have learned to set up your LP 12 & adjust it fro proper bounce & with the correct TT Stand 'MANA' or older Sound Organisation TT Stand circa '85 Hi-Fi Choice reviewers voted the LP12 'the most important hi-fi component ever sold in the UK' and The Absolute Sound ranked it. Or at the very least consider something like a Audio Technica AT OC - 9 MC. The Linn Sondek LP12 (often shortened to Sondek or LP12) is a transcription turntable produced by Glasgow-based Linn Products, manufacturers of hi-fi, home theatre, and multi-room audio systems.Its name is derived from the 12' vinyl LP (long play gramophone record). As these are both Cartridges that I've been using for well over 17 years & 8 months for the Lyra - I've always felt that both of these designs have much to offer. In MM Cartridges look at Roksan Corus Black If possible? - do consider finding a Naim Audio Aro Tonearm as many of us have found that these two simply have that Synergy thing going on. I'd have never throught that any SME based tonearm worked with the Linn LP 12 as they all seem to often a somewhat overblown & colored bass. `As someone whom has owned several different versions of this Turnatble with the first one in 1987 and the final version in 1996 before falling in love with either The Roksan Xerxes or Well Tempered Classic Turntables.