Which to upgrade first: Turntable or Phono Preamp

Hey @ml8764ag Glad to know you love your PHO 701. I’m not entirely unhappy with it. One thing I wish it can do better is the noise floor. I wish it was quieter. I bought a NOS RCA tube and it sounds a little nicer than the stock one, also seems a little warmer.

My issue is that the PHO 701 is my first ever phono stage. I’m curious to see if I can do better. Also, on the digital side, I have a Lumin T2 streamer/DAC, and I think it sounds better than my analog set up. It has a quieter background and a bigger sound stage. Although my analog setup sounds a little more intimate. I guess I want to see if I can improve on my analog set up to ’compete’ with my digital set up. Sounds silly, isn’t it? :-)

Looks like most people think it’s better to upgrade the phono stage first. Will post back if I do make a change. Thanks again!

xcool what u described is already a good sign that your current setup is decent. 

try a better phonostage I vote

There is Nothing wrong with that turntable, it is beautiful and a pleasure to use. however, personally I would have opted for the classic sb with speed box built in. I own the sb classic and hana EL and it is a terrific turntable/cartridge combo. I would look to replace the phono preamp. Get a tavish design the classic or the vintage tubed preamp ($699/$729). The difference is the tubes used with each. I would then also advise you to use a Jensen mc 2rr, a 1:10 sut ($600). The Jensen has a fixed load setting of 430 ohms, perfect for the Hana. Connect the sut output to the MM section of either aforementioned tavish (47 k ohm) and enjoy! Oh, if you get either tavish, change out the tubes for some vintage nos tubes! I’ve got a RCA 7025, GE 12au7, and a Sylvania 5751 installed in my classic and it is great!

One last thing to add to that pro-ject would be the Stein music mat, it is great but expensive @ $249. Available from Galen Carol. For a cheaper mat, I’ve had success with the hide in the sound leather mats, very thin and of high quality.

Both the Jensen sut and the Tavish design preamps are made in the USA. Both companies also pick up the phone and are great to deal with.
The tone arm on the your classic is of a great design. It was chosen by Linn for its $4300 MAJIK. It is also versatile at 13.5 grams effective mass, allowing you a greater choice in cartridges.

Find a dealer where you can demo the alternatives before you buy. 

My preference would be to improve the turntable first, as you'll get out what you put in at the front end. But check that out for yourself. 

You don't say where you are but in Europe it's possible to pick up a Vertere DG-1 within your budget, and it will knock socks off your current deck. The Clearaudio looks like a good intermediate step.  

+1 for the Herron VTPH-2A. I absolutely love this phono stage. I did A TON of research prior to purchasing and couldn’t be happier. Call Keith Herron. I did. Super nice guy. He even called me back to troubleshoot a used unit I did not purchase from him after inquiring about buying a new one from him. This is a no brainer if you can afford it. Also, I have the Hana SL with the Clearaudio Concept table hooked up to the Herron. It’s magic. GL!