Analog Upgrade - Where to start?

with vinyl set-up can many times be maybe the easiest leap forward. if you are not expert on that, then if you know someone who can make sure you are hearing everything your present set-up can do that is a good place to start.

i do agree that your tt, arm, and cartridge are very high level; and would involve significant investments to push higher since your phono stage would mute the advances. your SME 20/2 is not held back by being from 2005. it can still deliver fine sound.

it’s hard to specifically recommend a phono pre without knowing the rest of your system and musical tastes. so i’ll just throw out the van den Hul Grail as a good very high performance phono that won’t break the bank and fits your stated goals. it plays with the big boys. there are many others to mention when we know more. do you prefer tubes or solid state?

https://www.vandenhul.com/product/the-grail-sb/

you can run across them used from time to time.

You have a truly fabulous deck. I would agree with the other posters that you should focus 100% on phono stage for upgrade, even though the Stellar was probably a recent purchase for you.

I’m partial to the VAC tube MM stages. Then add a good external SUT (Bob’s Devices Sky, EAR, etc), and you will never ever again feel your music is lacking an iota of: body, soul, musicality. There was a VAC Standard preamp with their excellent onboard 3-tube phono stage for sale here at about $2K, I believe (I have no association to the seller). I would get that JUST for the phono stage, even bypassing its line stage if you find your current one better. Then add a better external SUT. Or you could start with a nice warm fleshy sounding SUT (Bob’s Devices Sky) and add that to your Stella and see how you like that to start!

Dear @chilli42 : "" I am looking to introduce more dynamic sound, detail..........""

What you are looking for is generated by the source in the analog rig and that means by the cartridge. It’s here the best item to start and achieve your targets.

You can choose from today top quality performers from Ortofon, Van denhul, the humble Hana Umami Red, Lyra Etna SL, My Sonic Lab, ZYX , etc, etc..

Stay with your phono stage that’s a lot better that what some of the gentlemans ( I respect all of them. ) that posted here could even dream/have no idea of what are talking about..

I know very well Dynavector cartridges including the one you own and yes it’s here where you need to try a change.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

I would consider upgrading the phono stage to something on the same level as the rest of the system (Dagostino, Boulder, Brinkmann, Zesto), if budget allows i would also change the cartridge.