How much to spend on a turntable/arm combo?

JV:

Back when LPs ruled the day (they still rule as far as readily available source material goes), it was not uncommon for audiophiles to allocate a sizeable portion of available funds toward the electronics/source end of the equation, while investing relatively smaller sums in speakers, especially high quality minis. For years, Stereophile editor John Atkinson drove his then-reference Celestion SL 600s with a pricey Linn/Audio Research/Krell front-end to cite one example.

I am considering a similar approach. I would like to mate my lovely PSB M2 mini-monitors (speakers infinitely better that the SL 600s of old) to a front-end consisting of a TW Acustic Raven One table (arm and cartridge combo TBD), the Parasound JC-2 preamp, the Sim Moon LP 5.3 phono stage, and perhaps a recent vintage Mcintosh power amp like the MC 252 or 401.

The plan is to upgrade my current system over the next 2-3 years, as funds become available.

Is such an allocation warranted? I love the PSBs: they provide eveything I want in an affordable mini, and at a fair price: $2500/pr. (stands included). They are highly coherent (as befits their 2-way lineage), play loudly and cleanly, image like blood-hounds, and look nice to boot.

Please advise.

Amandela.