Phono Preamp upgrade

My advice, don't mess around with baby steps. With digital, okay. That stuff gets old so fast. A good phono stage though, well worth the money. 

I get you are thinking, "$600 turntable, $1k phono stage, sounds about right." If this will be the end of it, maybe so. But already you are talking about a better table and cartridge. So in 6 months, a year tops, out goes the phono stage, back to square one. 

Basically what I am saying, instead of buying for the system you have now, buy for the system you want to have next. Buy the one you will want when you have that better table and cart. Because soon enough, you will.

Best part of doing it this way, you will be shocked how much difference a really good phono stage makes.

@boywondr84  - I previously owned a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB. The only difference between my TT and yours is the built-in speed box in the Esprit. It included the acrylic platter which you've already upgraded.

I replaced the Ortofon 2M red stylus with a 2M Blue Stylus and I replaced the phono cable with an Audio Sensibility Impact SE (w/factory burn-in). I found these to be good upgrades at a reasonable price.

However, I have since replaced the Pro-Ject with a Pioneer PLX1000 turntable with a lowly Ortofon Concorde mkII Mix DJ cartridge and I feel it is better than the Pro-Ject. Once I put a more audiophile focused cartridge on the Pioneer, I think it will be a significantly better setup.

I think the Hagerman or Sutherland phono pre-amps would be a good upgrade for you. However, I feel you are ultimately going to be limited by your TT.

You've got great amplification and speakers (although I've never heard the KEFs). I think upgrading both your TT and phono pre-amp are in order. You could do either one first, but probably plan on both over time.

@reubent 

However, I feel you are ultimately going to be limited by your TT

I would agree with that. I purchased a Carbon Debut to see if getting back into vinyl would stick the second time around (after a very long absence). It stuck. Think I had it less than a year before I dove in deeper than I thought I might. It was well worth it. Actually the Mani was the last thing I replaced. I had my SOTA Sapphire/Jelco 850/Soundsmith Zephyr running with the Mani before I ultimately replaced it. That combo was heads and tails above the Pro-Ject in every way, and I was quite pleased with it even with the Mani. The Hagerman was icing on the cake.

It’s a good point @reubent makes. You may want to rethink your table/arm/cartridge first. But, I would be prepared to spend a lot more than a thousand bucks. 

Agree with the above. Upgrade turntable first. 

@millercarbon +1 nailed it on the head. Phonostages are really important don’t skimp… get a destination phonostage or your not going to know what’s happening when you upgrade tt and cartridges.