Which to upgrade first: Turntable or Phono Preamp

Dear @millercarbon :   "   vs pure tubey magic... "

certainly you have a wide " imagination " because that " magic " just does not exist and never existed. Can you prove it its existence with true repétitive  facts?

R.

big_greg

OP said: "Just going through some upgrade fever I guess".

OP says happy with the Hana. OK, but we can still suggest ideas.

I was very happy with my MM Shure/SAS cartridge, then after much resistance, and encouragement here, I tried a MC, via SUT to existing beloved tube phono. Sure GLAD I had my resistance broken!

I still use my old Shure on a separate arm.

My MC choice was based on both wider channel separation and tighter center balance than the Shure. It’s imaging is why I prefer it.

IOW, a different cartridge, as an addition to the Hana, will give the largest audible difference.

IMO, a better TT/ARM is essentially ’to do less’ i.e. less vibration, less speed variation, better transmission of groove/stylus down the wire. While ’advisable’ an audible improvement detected, the system sound will be essentially the same.

I never saw or heard OP’s Vincent or a Jolida, I looked online, both very versatile, quickie search decent reviews, within OP’s budget, seemed to me just keep the Vincent.

Any phono stage change really needs return option, their sound in ____ system is not easily predictable.

this looks interesting, MM and MC phono, but no returns

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-CARVER-C-1-Sonic-Holography-Preamplifier-w-BOX-Paperwork-NEAR-MINT-...

New table for sure. VPI is usually the most mentioned in that price range, but I personally prefer the aesthetics of the Clearaudio Concept w/ Satisfy tonearm.

I would make look at the various online retailers (MusicDirect, HiFi Heaven, Upscale Audio etc.) or local stores and find a good deal on an open box special. 

The table you have is capable, and the cartridge is quite good.

I think you're going to have to spend north of 4k to get a significant improvement over your current table.  Below that, and you're just trading one design compromise for another.

Go for the phono preamp at this point.

@elliottbnewcombjr This isn't meant as a putdown, but I'm having a hard time making sense of your dialogue about switching from a MM to MC cart since the OP has a nice MC cart already.

Getting a better turntable is the thing that is most likely to result in better sound quality in terms of more detail, better imaging, soundstaging, timing, etc. or to your point, more of the music getting through.  You're correct that changing the cart or the phono stage may result in a more noticeable difference in sonic character, but that's not always the same as an improvement. 

Different can be good.  Better is usually better.