First table, second cartridge, ...

Welcome to the world of vinyl! Some of us old farts had no choice… way back when. But starting by learning what you have is a great idea. So spend time with it, understanding the sound.

Once you really know what your system sounds like… well, you have a world of better sound ahead of you.

After fifty years using turntables, my recommendation is to have a carefully chosen phono stage of no less than the cost of your turntable. Until I bought a Audio Research PH8 my phono-stage always held back my turntable. I would highly recommend a used one for your system… or better. Audio Research is a true audiophile companies and makes world class phono stages.

Raving reviews of inexpensive phono-stages are great, but never compete with true audiophile phono-stages.

What is the rest of your system? There is a place to show photos and I’d your components. We can help a lot seeing you system in it’s venue.

The move from the Exact MM Cart' to the Aria Pro MC Cart', will undoubtedly bring a new presentation, the Styli alone on the MC, will have a significant impact on how the replay is presented.

Note: Ogura Vital Styli, are quite reduced and really are best used with meticulously Clean LP's, if a typical longevity of usage is to be attained.

I am not familiar with your Phonostage, but can assure you the Phon' in general, as a device, is capable of elevating a Vinyl LP Source to levels of performance that are extremely impressive. The hurdle for the end user, is that there are quite a range of presentations on offer, even from circuits that are produced from quite similar Topologies.

If the usage of Vinyl is looking to be a Keeper, seeking out the Keeper Phon' is well worth taking the time to learn more about. My suggestion is to arrange a few demonstrations of SS, Valve/Hybrid and All Valve, to get to the design that really gels with your unique preferences. From this point on, it is a case of Turnover of experiences of your preferred circuitry, the correct one will be discovered.

So far, no encouragement to spend on equipment, but there is a place where you could direct a little money.

A TT when mounted in a manner that is correcting the impact on it, from the environment the TT is set up in, can prove to be extremely beneficial, and if changing from a usual mounting method, that can transfer unwanted energies to the TT,  to a bespoke thought-out mounting method that reduces / isolates the TT environmental impact, the differences that can be perceived in the SQ / Presentation, can be perceived as if there is a New and much improved TT in the house.            

Many folks prefer the SUT option. Personally, I've been really happy with well-built phono stages. You could go up the Vincent chain and check out the PHO-701. I've used that one and love it. Lehmann is another brand I really enjoy. Anyway, in my experience, I find the phono stages with multiple load options for MC carts an excellent way to go. Like the PHO-701, it has many detailed adjustments via DIN switches ranging from 99-1000 ohms, so you can really dial in the sound.

Look at the Goldnote PS-10 + PSU-10. It will run any cart and won't break the bank; and you can adjust everything on the fly from a single control knob. 

Welcome to the world of vinyl. We can all give you advice but only your ears can tell you what you like. As for the phono stage different cartridges need to be driven differently so some thing that allows you to change on the fly I believe is necessary. Then try different technologies SS, tube, and hybrid. I personally preferer tubes. Try the used market before you spend the big bucks. Did you have a budget in mind? But most of all have fun with it.