I don’t think it will cost you a fortune. I would do the table upgrades. Then see where you are… a used Audio Research PH8 would really upgrade your analog end. I would imagine that would be around $8K. Then if it isn’t there a cartridge for $3K.
I sprung for the TT rebuild.
But I am not sure I would spend 8k$ on a phono stage without figuring out if the arm is a keeper or not.
And realistically just a new head shell and MM cart totally transformed many of the aspects of what was wrong with the system… and that was <1k$.
I think listening and then going from there is a wise move to ease into it.
But then again I looked at my age and at the calendar and thought, I best enjoy this stuff now.