Analog Upgrade - Where to start?


I am looking to upgrade my LP playback system.  My current system is a mixed bag of new and old: SME 20/2 turntable (from about 2005), Kuzma 4 point nine Tonearm and the SME Series V Tonearm, Dynavector MC DRT XV-1s (retipped by Soundsmith), PS Audio Stellar phono pre.  I am looking to introduce more dynamic sound, detail (without edge) and musicality.  The rest of my system supports this end.  Any suggestions on where might be the best place to start the upgrade?
chilli42
The PS Audio Stellar is a new item that was most likely introduced very recently in your system. So my question is this: did you develop this desire for more dynamics before you purchased the Stellar or after? For this it would help to know what phono amp it replaced and also the rest of the system. As it stands now, anything could be the cause of your discontent.

I do not know your analog front end from personal experience, but these are highly respected components, including that Dynavector. As for the Stellar, maybe it is 'stellar' especially at the price which is 'sane' for a change. But perhaps it doesn't sit well with your pre amp, there's no way to tell.

However, do not for a moment believe that one of the current top price MC's will significantly improve on the Dyna in the dynamics department, although more fine detail can be retrieved by some of these. I have many MC's from current to quite old and there is no across the board improvement in moving coil cartridge design, no matter what the reviewers and some posters here would like you to believe. My Dynavector Karat Nova 13D from the 1980's (to stay with Dyna) is no less dynamic or detailed than - say - my Ortofon MC Anna or A95. An early 2000's original cantileverless Ikeda 9 Rex will be hard to beat on dynamics by ANY new cartridge, regardless of their 'break through' design, marketing or price. 

Musicality is a personal call and not necessarily related to your other demands and very much the result of system synergy. To my ears and in my system some of the 'old' cartridges like Miyabi Standard or even Fidelity Research FR-7fz are more 'musical' than any of these modern 'state of the art' cartridges. So think hard before you fork out at least 7 or 8 grand for one of these.

You have a great front end.  Check the arms and carts are still set up correctly.
The cart and the phono amp are the weaker areas but still quality pieces.

If your feeling that the system is missing dynamics is only recent, may I respectfully suggest you take a hearing test.  I don't know how old you are but many aspects of hearing quality and completeness start to become challenged as we get older.  If you're not hearing the top end of the frequency range so strongly or at all, you will certainly perceive this as a loss of dynamics.

I am 72 and am going through just that.  So I recently tested my HF hearing with a Hi-fi News Test CD.  It has a range of frequency tones, all recorded at the same level.   I found I could only just hear 8kH.
So my system doesn't sound so exciting.  But I find I'm listening more to the music than the system, so that's alright in a way.
Depending on your setting, diffusers will brighten up the sound a whole bunch specially if you only have absorbers. Sometimes it's not the equipment, it's the acoustics.
Chilli, all you have to do is stick a Lyra Atlas in that 4 Point 9 and you will be there. The less expensive approach to very high dynamics is getting a Clearaudio Charisma. It is the most dynamic cartridge I have ever heard and also the quietest. I would like to make a comments on Soundsmith cartridges as their design makes a lot of sense, so much so that I finally bought one but, until I get a turntable it will have to stay in it's box. The Turntable is slated for delivery in mid August. 
A Member of my Local HiFi Group has a SME 20/2 turntable and the SME Series V Tonearm, in use with a Transifiguration ?? MC.

Prior to COVID I have heard this on a few occasions in the Owners System, with a GRAAF OTL into Quad ESL's.
I missed a very recent date to listen to the above Vinyl Set Up,
but the Groups reports on the meeting was unanimous, in being very positive and complimentary.
Not too bad an outcome when their most recent Meetings prior to this have been using a SP10R >  12" Glanz > Miyajima.

I do not see any reasons for there to be any concerns for the TT and Tonearm, as needing to be replaced as part of a Upgrade Method.

To introduce a more dynamic sound, and add detail without drawing the attention to the Clinical Element, along with creating a perception of being engaging and as having a musicality that is a attractor.

There are few things that can be considered, prior to the investigations to be undertaken.

I know there is not any doubts for rest of the System, but a little extra thought and consideration might prove extremely beneficial,
especially when focused at the Systems Interfaces.

These options at the Interface can be prove to be cheaper to in vestigate and in some cases can be achieved for free, as some of the choices available might come with a offer of  a Trial and return Period as part of the Offer from the Vendor.

I have adopted the thought chain, where the Vinyl Chain in the System from Wall Outlet to Speaker a System that is totally dependent on the Umbilical's that combines the Individual Devices into a Whole, and will Treat these as an Individual Part, that has the potential to add or detract  to the Chain as a Whole.

The Phono Stage from PS Audio in my view will have the potential to improve on its Performance if the Power Cord is exchanged to a Modern Wired Design Power Cord. (My own use of such Power Cable Types has changed my thoughts on the subject permanently, a PS Audio Device was one that really benefitted, I am at presently working towards all Devices being Powered by such Modern Designed Wire)

The Cartridge Tag Wires can become quite revealing if exchanged for a Modern Design Wire. ( I have had this experience and am not interested in reverting back to my previous used Tag Wires)

The 5 Pin DIN > RCA Phono Cable 'if this type is used' can become again a very noticeable improvement if a Modern Design Wire is used.
The use of the same Wire Types between SUT and Phonostage or Phon' and Pre' ,  has the potential to underpin the Value being perceived for the use of the Modern Designed Wire. (Again this is a Method I am permanently using, and have no intention to return to previously used Wires, during Loans of these New Used Wiring configurations, on friends owned Systems, the reception for them is very positive and one that will at some stage be aspired to by the system owners).
I am working my way toward the Pre > Power Amp Cable Exchanges,
but I am not able to offer a report on this at present.

Where there was not too much added expectation to be further impressed by a Large Measure, I was proved quite wrong.
When the Speaker Cables were exchanged to a Solid Strand Modern Design Wire, my initial thoughts were that there was not much to be gained, within about Two Hours of being Hooked Up, I was Jaw on the Floor, what was a very well acquainted Subtle Breath on a recording was now a Room Filling Sound, and the improvements were very noticeable across different recordings.
(There are still stranded wires on standby to be used that are a Modern Wire Design, to be compared in place of the Solid Wire)

If by Dynamics it is meant the range between the Quietest and Loudest Sound.
Then I believe that the changes being made to the Cables in my System have shown that the previous cables in use, although produced from a Wire with a popular following, were not able to reveal the Dynamics at the same level being presented with the New Wires that are presently in use.
This is a result of my using just one type of a Modern Designed Wires at the Interfaces.
(There are different configurations of these Wires and the varying Levels of Purity within the structure of the Wires that can be used.)   
 
The exchanged Cables are still going through a Settlement period, and the way they are revealing Details, and showing the capability of being able to present the Whole Envelope is already noticeably improved. 

As said previously, certain Cables may be able to found on a offer for a period of loan, prior to fully committing to the purchase.

My Suggestion is not encouraging a change of a TT > Tonearm > Cartridge as a Source.
It is about encouraging the Devices to be connected with a Cable to be given a New Interface and offer the Devices a chance to deliver in a manner that has not been imagined.
A friend with a Audionote IO MC was shocked at how the DIN Cable and RCA Cables I loaned to them to use with their Tonearm and SUT TO Phon' Pre' produced a Presentation that was more than they had imagined and much wanted to be maintained.    

The Suggestion that ones hearing might be showing signs of deterioration is a good point, as age and environmental exposure can affect the Hearing.

My own were checked with a Testing Equipment during a Medical Three Years ago, I informed the Clinician of my added interest in the Test and asked for a demanding Test.
The Clinicians evaluation was that for my age, my investment in my HiFi
System was still able to reward me.