Upgrade from clearaudio maestro mm to $2-3k mc cart?

Thanks everyone. Upgrading the phono stage first makes sense. I’ve heard good things about the simaudio moon. The Manley Chinook and Aestetix Rhea have also caught my eye but the prices (especially for the Rhea) would require extra time to save up. Any opinions on those stages compared to the moon 310lp? Also, from my brief research into the 310lp it looks like you have to open the case to adjust settings. Is that as big of a pain as it sounds? Lastly, do those of you that recommended the 310LP use the internal power supply or an external psu?

Thanks

Check out US Audiomart. Can't link it here.

If you want a tube phono stage-Chinook $2k Fosgate $1250

I've had both units side by side in my setup. The Fosgate subjectively sounds more convincing/organic BUT not for you if you must have absolute quiet.

It's a true all tube(rectified, active gain for MC) that means tube hiss will be heard in between cuts playing at concert level, or you're that guy who puts his ear against the speaker grill, then posts a thread complaining somethings wrong with his setup.

Pair  a $1K LOMC with either, and you will have a great setup. 

Both units perfect for your next turntable upgrade and the $3K LOMC.

You could likely negotiate price on  both-particularly the Fosgate since it's long out of production. Not sure if Musical Surroundings still supports it. My Foz is 10 years old.

@durte30 ,

I have the same Clearaudio Wood turntable with carbon fiber Satisfy tonearm.

If you should decide to follow the excellent recommendations above for preamp upgrade and are then looking around for matching Lo MC cartridges in the $1k range, I have a couple of suggestions.  The Clearaudio Concept MC cartridge is no slouch, and obviously matches up well with this system.  Another often recommended pairing is one of the Hana's such as the ML, or other Shibata-tipped MC's.

Enjoy.

@tablejockey 

I’ll take a look at the fosgate. My research on phono stages has been very casual as I thought I’d be replacing the cart first so I still have a lot of research to do. I tend to prefer tubes to ss (in general) but am not dead set on having a tubed phono. I recently added an audiomirror tubadour III SE DAC to my digital chain which I think is what has had me thinking about analog upgrades... 
 

@sandstone 

Do you have the moon 310LP paired with that tt? Are you using the concept mc or did you land on something else? Thanks. 

Lyra Delos