Money well spent

I have the same table. I would make sure I had the  BEST phonostage I could afford and go up a level with the LOMC.

The Classic is worthy of a more upscale cart than the Benz Ace.

I have used a Benz Glider, Sumiko Blackbird and Audio Technica OC9III/ART 9. To my ears, in my system, the ART9 is a winner.

The ART9 has remained on my table for over a year.
If you get maximum resale and only have to cough up the difference for the Prime, it may be a good move. 
I still would seriously consider phono stage/LOMC.


 

i have a musical fidelity mxvynl it can run any mc .my ace is a low output.red... ls . I would not consider selling my classic unless the price was right.Its the front mount motor and i truly like it ,its on 2"audiopoints and sounds great I do believe the cart is the next step of course if i stay put. The prime is at the top of the list with the trans fi if i go that route. the upgrade would be a g min. plus a cart so it will compound from there. 
I would be interested in the 2-3 k range for a  cart if i stay put with my classic .. thanks everyone for the imput 

inna,
This trans fi from vic just intrigues me . Guys just rave over that arm and the people using it are spinning on some serious tt. getting back to the upgrade i just am at the point were i feel i need to upgrade my cart, and think is this my best plan yannow..

Oleschool, I guess, you want to do both, just not sure what to start with. In any case, if you go with expensive cartridge upgrade now you do want to be sure it will work just fine in a new arm should you decide to follow up with the table/arm change. It just may be mostly a matter of taste and opportunity if you buy used. I would almost certainly start with the table, someone else with the cartridge and another one with separate phono stage, perhaps even tube one.
Tell us what you eventually have decided.

"It is the front mount motor and i truly like it ,its on 2"audiopoints and sounds great I do believe the cart is the next step of course if i stay put."

Are you using/considered the motor controllers?(SDS,Phoenix)  
Without it, you're not hearing 33.3. I would like to use one, but the version I have 
is the AC regen. Can't use without a VPI motor mod.