@bobheinatz,
Some thoughts,
1. Does your Lenco turntable have all the latest mods - see discussion high-endaudio.com/RC-Lenco.html. This will likely not consume much of your budget but could improve what you have. The SME V is such a high performer, to get better will be very much on the side of diminishing return. Otherwise there are many that swear by the superiority of the Lenco rim drive, so a new direct drive may only be a variation.
2. Any thoughts to a step-up transformer assuming you are using a moving coil cartridge? What about a new cartridge?
3. Your speakers are a pretty old design, and it appears that Dale Pitcher may no longer be in business; https://www.choiceaudio.com/specials/intuitive-design-gamma-summits
since his site is no longer active, but that does not mean new will be better. Given your budget of about $20K, there many speakers available, but purchase without some audition would probably not be wise. Later this year, if you could a attend one of the audio shows, maybe CAF-2020 (not knowing where you) capitalaudiofest.com/caf2020/ could be an option. I have Kharma CE2.2 speakers that I bought new, and after twice to CAF 2018/2019, the only speakers that I would have considered (but not over whelming) where the top line Joseph Audio and the Vimberg Mino both around $30K, and basically for me non-starters. Also, as discussed in the Choice Audio site is the option for a sub-woofer to supplement your current speakers.
4. The last 10-years have seen a dramatic price increase in manufacturing cost of high end equipment and the value of new today does not necessarily equal new from 10-years ago. The granite cabinets of your current speakers are not degrading any time soon, at least not for the next >>>100 years. If Dale Pitcher is still available, what would he maybe recommend as an upgrade to your current speakers. What I see is someone who spent their $$$ very wisely, and bought equipment that can stand the test of time and in some cases is bespoke and maybe just some upgrades will be your best and most satisfying approach.
Just some thoughts,
Some thoughts,
1. Does your Lenco turntable have all the latest mods - see discussion high-endaudio.com/RC-Lenco.html. This will likely not consume much of your budget but could improve what you have. The SME V is such a high performer, to get better will be very much on the side of diminishing return. Otherwise there are many that swear by the superiority of the Lenco rim drive, so a new direct drive may only be a variation.
2. Any thoughts to a step-up transformer assuming you are using a moving coil cartridge? What about a new cartridge?
3. Your speakers are a pretty old design, and it appears that Dale Pitcher may no longer be in business; https://www.choiceaudio.com/specials/intuitive-design-gamma-summits
since his site is no longer active, but that does not mean new will be better. Given your budget of about $20K, there many speakers available, but purchase without some audition would probably not be wise. Later this year, if you could a attend one of the audio shows, maybe CAF-2020 (not knowing where you) capitalaudiofest.com/caf2020/ could be an option. I have Kharma CE2.2 speakers that I bought new, and after twice to CAF 2018/2019, the only speakers that I would have considered (but not over whelming) where the top line Joseph Audio and the Vimberg Mino both around $30K, and basically for me non-starters. Also, as discussed in the Choice Audio site is the option for a sub-woofer to supplement your current speakers.
4. The last 10-years have seen a dramatic price increase in manufacturing cost of high end equipment and the value of new today does not necessarily equal new from 10-years ago. The granite cabinets of your current speakers are not degrading any time soon, at least not for the next >>>100 years. If Dale Pitcher is still available, what would he maybe recommend as an upgrade to your current speakers. What I see is someone who spent their $$$ very wisely, and bought equipment that can stand the test of time and in some cases is bespoke and maybe just some upgrades will be your best and most satisfying approach.
Just some thoughts,