Upgraded turntable - is my current setup sufficient?

There will be a huge improvement, for sure. Whether you hear it or not.... ;

The Marantz weighs in at 19.6lbs. You want to know that because one of the best things you can do next is put it on springs, and springs need to be tuned to the weight of the component.

With a new table, before throwing money at anything else I would be doing all the really cost-effective little things to get the most out of that table. For $500 you could get a nice heavy solid shelf, Synergistic PHT, and Nobsound springs. All together these will make about as much improvement as any phono stage you could buy with that same budget.

One of the great things about analog is that unlike digital the gear has a very long life. Most guys will chip away at it, $500 phono stage, $1000 phono stage, $1500 phono stage, like that. Baby steps. Each step costing you money in depreciation every time you buy and sell.

What I do instead is look around for stuff that is really high value. The best does tend to cost more. So? Work on other stuff while saving up for a Grail that is worth it.

For example- and not saying do this just giving one example- https://www.decware.com/newsite/ZP3.htm Insanely good and everyone will say way above your pay grade but look- lifetime warranty. Freaking good sound. As long as you are careful to use a MM or higher output MC you won’t need a SUT. Kind of thing it will be a good long time, if ever, that you outgrow it. Cross the phono stage off your list. Might take a while to save up but one and done vs baby steps.

I know this works great by the way because its exactly what I did. Saved and stretched to buy a ARC PH3SE some 20+ years ago. Lasted me all the way until 2 years ago upgraded to Herron VTPH2A. None of them cheap but imagine if I took the baby steps approach, would’ve spent 3x and still not be there.

Again, just one example. Don’t get caught up too much in the balanced system approach. Don’t be afraid to think big, and long term. Slow and steady. 20, 30 years ago I was right about where you are now. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367

Thanks for the reply. You have a beautiful setup there. well done.

We seem to be on the same page - slow and steady is how i've been building and always an eye out for cost effective deals. In fact this table is the first item i've purchased new. Everything else has been used or a hand-me-down.

My table is currently sitting on a pangea rack sitting about 4 feet from my right front channel. My floors are hardwood so it probably makes sense to look into some isolation gear. 

One silver lining with this virus... plenty of money to burn. 

Oh one more question. Any recommendations for a dust cover? I've seen some out there for around $180 bucks but wanted to make sure i wasn't missing any other options.

just to confirm, your denon is vintage dp 3000? or a typo, is it the current dp300?

either one, you are changing from direct drive to belt drive, I prefer DD, quartz locked (on, instant and maintained speed); but if you didn't/don't hear any problem, don't have power variations, after motor warm up, speed of belt drive should be stable.

IOW, I don't think the table itself will make a difference, and I think other things done correctly, more expensive tables will also not be as important as the arm, cartridge, phono stage. 

If vintage dp 3000, you didn't mention current arm. 

cartridge, the new clearaudio will definitely sound different, and should also be an obvious improvement.

However, it is an elliptical stylus shape, so even if better, a future upgrade to advanced stylus shape, Microlinear, Fineline, SAS will be a definitely audible further step up.

It has much tighter channel balance .4db existing is 1.5db. that will definitely tighten the center resulting in improved imaging. channel separation specs are very similar 25/26 db.

Signal strength: new clearaudio is lower 3.6mV signal; existing is 5.0 mv. You will definitely need more juice out of your preamp/amp for same volume as existing cartridge. If it remains quiet, no concern. If tubes, you will be driving them harder. Great results, who cares. 

Cartridge change n the future, I would consider higher signal strength, lighter tracking force, wider separation, keep tight channel balance.

I would assume your turntable is dp300f.
The Marantz turntable dwarfs rest of your components. I think the biggest bottleneck is the phono pre. Then, your speakers, and preamp, and then amp.
Your turntable and cartridge deserve at least $300 phono preamp. Your Rotel amp and Adcom preamp will be OK for a while, but you would not get 100% out of the turntable.
My suggestion is, seriously looking for better phono pre ASAP, and then save $$$$ for next speakers and amps.

Yes - dp300f. No typos - also it is belt driven. Stock arm and upgraded to sumiko rainier cart. 

Any suggestions on a phono-pre that pairs well with the clearaudio cart? 

I don't see myself upgrading the rotel amps or speakers for at least a couple years... Though you never know should a good deal come around. 

Experimenting with some different phono's seems like an easy enough exercise though. Thank you.