Money well spent

If you put your analog front end upgrade on hold and sell your current amp, how much would it cost you compared to what you are going to do? Yes, you may never want or need to upgrade that VAC. Except for tubes.

Not much more really but it would be all at once instead of over time . I just feel like the time is not right for that big of a plunge for me . Oh i do love it , there are few amps at any price that are " better" as of now a cple k towards a cart this fall is in my wheelhouse . I will have a ref vac eventually i could sell one of my guitars but i dont go backwards in life anymore by choice atleast lol

I see. Yeah, it would not be in steps. Backwards - no, in a little more complicated way - perhaps.

I have the Trans-FI. It solves lots of problems. Cartridge straight to phono pre. Many have said, and they have much more experience chasing the ultimate sound than I, that the Trans-Fi Salvation combo at 4.5K was a step up over much more expensive rigs previously owned. I couldn't say, but some prominent posters on this site with much more cred than I, have said as much. I love mine. Once you own one, in using it over time one begins to realize what makes it such a nice deck/arm combo. The geometry begins to show it's value. The two rail air suspension is designed in such a simple but effective manner also.
Go to Dark Lantern website. 
Like you, I would love some VAC amplification. Some 70/70s are in my future if I'm lucky.

dentdog,
        I hear so many good things about the transfi .i guess the only downfall if it is or not ,that its not blinged out.The machining is practical and functional not as much for the eyecandy.I know terry here using two of the arms and like them also. If I may, what tables have you had before the transfi ? For the 3500 bks I hear it shoots way above its price and that vic is really a pleasure to deal with.
 Could you give me a quick review, and your experiences with it?
 Thanks
     And yes I have been thinking of the vac all night ,I know im 49 yrs old now because I think of being reasponsible,my daughter and wife ,few yrs back that friker be on its way tommorow lol