WRT the turntable.

Yeah, the turntable is the weakest link.

But like my 79-year-old Dad's hearing (he can't hear as well as you or I do, but he still benefits a LOT from a better amp and speakers on the TV) - it's always helpful to keep all the links as good one can afford. If you're BUYING all the links, THEN you should try to keep them in the same price range, or you're wasting money on the high end links.

At the same time I wonder: there's an audiophile shop that sells used turntables about 5 blocks away...would they be willing to rent me one of those for a couple of weeks? Hehehe.