Should I get a new cart, TT or phono stage?

Keep the denon actually your system looks good 2 me unless u go hi hi-end the marginal uprades not worth it table is from denons best era imho

I agree with Swampwalker and Phasecorrect - your system looks OK and you would have to spend a bit to make a large improvement. But you should check to see if everthng is setup correctly. First, check your cables. Then, check that you are using the correct cartridge setting on the back of your Phono Box II - it should be set to MM. Then check your TT setup (cartridge, turntable isolation or coupling, etc).

My rule is (and some might disagee with me) that all else being equal (meaning no setup or mechanical issues), your biggest improvements in sound will come from the "outside" in. For analog, that means that biggest changes in sound quality will come from improving cartridge/arm first (they must be considered together), then TT deck, then the phono stage, then preamp, then power amp; with diminishing improvements in overall sound quality as you go down the list. As with all rules there are exceptions, and YMMV.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I had no idea the Denon was that well regarded.

One thought I had was to replace the stylus on the 2m red. I read somewhere that all 2m have the same body. Is that true? If so could I put a 2m black stylus into my 2m red body?

I think I'll upgrade the phono pre first and go from there.

I would replace the Phono stage first
this unit is the most important in analog Playback

06-07-09: Djn04
One thought I had was to replace the stylus on the 2m red. I read somewhere that all 2m have the same body. Is that true? If so could I put a 2m black stylus into my 2m red body?

Although the four cartridges appear physically identical, they 2M system is really two separate cartridge bodies and four stylus assemblies. The Red and Blue cartridge bodies are identical. The Bronze and Black cartridge bodies are also identical--to each other, but not to the Red/Blue bodies. The Bronze/Black bodies are built with better materials and closer tolerances (and slightly different design IIRC) to take full advantage of the higher-res--but slightly different compliance--Bronze and Black styllii.

You *may* be able to slide a Black stylus onto your "Red" cartridge body, but it won't make it a real 2M Black. However, if you replace your Red stylus with a Blue one, it will be identical with the factory 2M Blue.