Upgrading phono stage

I have a 12K top wing Blue Dragon cartridge and at the moment I’m using a iPhono3 Black Label until my next phono stage is built. I am very impressed with the Ifi. I don’t think you can beat it at that price.

@cpdkee, I think at this point you would be better served upgrading your cartridge and maybe turntable. The Rogue is not bad a all. I would save the jump to an outboard phono stage until you are ready to make the jump to separates. For you right now it is all about speakers and turntable systems. Get yourself a Hi Fi account/cookie jar and throw a little in there monthly until you get a sum large enough to make a significant leap. Window shop. What is your ideal system? Know the end game and head in that direction.  Looking back I think I wasted a lot of money going sideways. I certainly wasted a lot of money getting things I was not going to like in the end. My biggest mistake was Apogee Divas. That one cost me $7000 and I wound up with the exact same speakers I had before, Acoustat 2+2s which I still have to this day 30 years later. I am finally getting a new set just now to the tune of $30,000 and It took me that long to save for them. Children put a big dent in my Hi Fi savings.

@lancelock , then why are you having another phono stage built?

@mijostyn I appreciate the feedback. I have been wavering between going to a 2M Bronze or a Nagaoka MP 200. The soundsmith Othello ES is of interest too. I wasn't sure if I will get more bang for my buck with a cartridge or phono stage. Right now I don't have a dedicated room for listening. Due to space and practicality seperates are not an option right now. I could actually do a cartridge and phone stage if it comes in under $2500. Any opinions on those cartridges or any other suggested ones?