I would like to get back into analog music again.

The wife is on board, but large "single guy" speakers won't fly as we don't have room.

I'd need a turntable, cartridge, receiver, and speakers.
I'm hoping for really clear sound, but I don't need enough power to make my ears bleed.

Can I get some decent sound under $1000 or should I go be poor somewhere else with my CDs?

Disclaimer: I'm not a vinyl guy.

If space is an issue, I'd skip the receiver (unless you have to have multiple inputs), get a small phono preamp/DI box, and run some powered studio monitors.


You could plug your turntable into this:
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And run right out of it into a pair of Yamaha HS8s:
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That's about a grand right there, which doesn't leave money for the turntable, but if you like the idea, you could go for cheaper components.

As far as turntables, Pro-Ject, Rega, Music Hall;

Examples: https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/turntables/

Receivers; Onkyo, Denon, Yamaha, buy one that gets good reviews with a phono preamp built in.

Speakers: Maybe NHT, B&W, Elac, not up on what is the go to for small speakers these days.

You should be able to put together something for <$1,000 that will have very good sound.

Wow. Some of those turntables are 15 times the OP's entire budget

Fluance RT85 turntable.

You can almost get what you want under $1000 with a Rega Planar 1 turntable, Monoprice Pure Tube Stereo Amplifier, and a pair of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers. That setup would be about $1200.

It would sound a lot better with a pair of Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers, but that would put you over $2000.