Next step: preamp or phono preamp

Since the SYS/Lounge seem to play well into your amplifier, I believe an upgrade in TT/Tonearm/cartridge will make a significant improvement in your overall experience. The source sets the limit on what can be derived from a system. Maybe you should consider working from the source back toward the amplifier. That said, one could easily spend as much on a vinyl front end as on electronics (amp/preamp/phonostage) and have a balanced system. I imagine your amp ran ~$1200, the basic Candela lists at $1600, and the basic Suspiro lists at $1200. The Suspiro phonostage seems to be very flexible in terms of gain and loading options. More so than the Lounge. It should mate well with a number of cartridges.  

In a vinyl system, the two transducers, speaker and cartridge, contribute the most to the character of a system. Which begs the question: What speakers are you using?

@mesch thank you. Yes. Other than some (~25%) records having “shouty” upper mids, the sound is good. Already a big step up from the Marantz integrated I’m upgrading from.

‘Table wise I’m looking at used VPI Scouts and those will be the most I’ve spent on any single piece most likely. I’m considering a couple other tables (Polytable, Marantz T51)  but as this is my endgame system I don’t want to regret any purchases because I’m impatient. I have no experience with any table other than my PDC but the Scouts turn me on and will be a deep pool to dive into.

This had been my thinking lately too so your words ring true for me. I think the table will be next.

@mesch currently running Focal 807v’s. I like them but agree with the Stereophile review where he noted the tweeter can get trashy. If there was a beryllium tweeter upgrade I might pursue that. 

The speakers I have been saving for last as, after next year, I’ll be continuously downsizing to a studio apt and possibly a tiny house. So I wanted to have a good idea what I wanted to get and then see where I land to make sure it’s something that will fit. 

Odyssey has the Kismet Monitors which I’d love to hear but at $3700 I’m not sure I want to spend that much. But who knows.

I do like the VPI turntables. If I was looking for one I would be looking for a used VPI Classic 1. They originally sold for ~$2500, sans cartridge. Given you have a system in play now you can afford to take your time and 'get it right'. You are wise to purchase speakers after move. So many great monitors that play well into smaller spaces available today. 

I took ~3years putting together my 1st high end system which I kept for 25 years. Spent about the same putting together both systems I now own. My main system consists of a tube line level preamp driving a solid state amplifier. Speakers are 2-way monitors. I went with digital as primary source, though i still have my turntable from my first system (purchased in 1983). 

I came close to buying a Odyssey Khartago amplifier, however happened on to a used BEL 1001 MK5. Most of my components were purchased used.

@mesch thanks. Yeah that’s why I went separates so that I could buy individually and (try to) take my time and do it right. Most tables will be a good step up from the PDC but it’s been
rock solid for me. 

As for the Khartago, it’s fantastic and exceeded all my expectations. I have the stereo version and can see possibly sending back to have more upgrades done and then be done with it.

Somehow, in spite of myself, I’ve actually done well on my planning and research.