What to upgrade first for better sound quality?

Having done some fairly serious auditioning of the MAC MA600, I have concluded that it is a 'mid-fi' product at best. Treat yourself to something from Audio Research, Jeff Rowland, Conrad Johnson, Jadis etc. MACs are built like tanks, but what you want to match with the f-30s are true audiophile components. In all fairness, though, the high-end MAC tube gear is a big step forward from your integrated amp.

Did a little web surfing, but do you have a $6000 Mac MA6600 with a $3800 VPI Prime table all driven by a $700 Ortofon cartridge? Ivor Teifenbrun taught us all decades ago that the balance of system investment must lean towards the front end, the best possible table/arm/cartridge/phono pre-preamp, and then diminish investment (if necessary) downstream. I would recommend two things right away, invest in a serious phono cartridge worthy of what's downstream and then add the amazing Herbies Audio Lab turntable mat for $80. The Herbies mat on my Basis/Graham/BenzMicro/EAR $15000 front-end stunned me.

Yes I have the MAC MA6600 retail $6,500. My first inclination was to get an external phono amp that could run both MM and MC cartridges. This way I could use my current cartridge later upgrading to a MC. I was leaning towards either the Herron VTPH-2, Chinook or an AR. Biggest issue here was matching up with input impedance of only 20k. Herron looked like it might be the way to go. I do think about going tube at some point and don't believe I really 200w per channel. Listening room is say 12x18. This hobby can be daunting at times but I love it.