Cartridges

For *me*, based on your post, I would definitely drop the cart high bar to where I mentioned and focus on building record collection up. My 2c

I only have 1 expensive record. It is Steely Dan Aja (Cisco) and came from discogs. They were asking 850 for an unopened copy, but I got a used copy, I think they labeled it mint with near mint cover, for 400. I really did it as an experiment to see if there was anything to quality in different pressings. It really is different. I can turn it up as loud as I want with no fatigue at all. And it is super quiet. Sometimes I do visit the hot Stamper site out of curiosity. Just the other day I saw a Led Zeppelin copy there for $2500! I won’t be getting one.

I own probably a dozen reissues and over 1000 original vintage LPs from the 60s and 70s. To my ear the originals sound so much better than the re-issues but that’s just me. Having said that because this post is about cartridges I recently upgraded to an Ortofon 2M Bronze, and I am shaking my head at the amount of detail coming off of these old LPs. Background instruments, and singers and other detail I never knew existed. I’m not sure what would be gained by having anything better on my vintage Thorens, TD 145 and that cartridge was a bit less than 500 bucks.  I would have to think the law of diminishing returns sets in fairly quickly as the cost starts to rise over this level.

Given the level you have, experimenting with another cart and tubed phonostage will give another view of a "convincing presentation" The Parasound you use is known as a "cant go wrong’ SS unit. You might find the tubed flavor more pleasant.

I use an old VPI Classic 1 also. It has many technical "flaws’ on paper, but set up properly, it can deliver the goods, relative to the sum of system.

"I only have 1 expensive record. It is Steely Dan Aja (Cisco) and came from discogs"

A $10.00 1977 AA-1006 or AB 1006 period pressing will easily sound convincing as any pricey "super reissue." Of course, this is subjective. The hard part is finding one unmolested. I am fortunate to have a neighborhood store with cheap "stampers’

I have mentioned before, Mr. Hot Stamper used to send his scouts to this store for those $3-500 "white hot stamper’ candidates. Now and then, I believe I find the very copy of what he describes in his super embellished write ups on them. Difference being, I paid somewhere between $1-20 bucks

Steely Dan – Aja (1977, Santa Maria Pressing, Gatefold, Vinyl) - Discogs

Steely Dan – Aja (1977, Terre Haute Pressing, Vinyl) - Discogs

Cables and other audiophool stuff will only drain your wallet faster.

@hysteve 

You have a fairly balanced system. I am familiar with most of the gear you have.

The problem is that the tonearm is the weak link if it is the VPI unipivot and you won't get the best out of a cartridge upgrade.

The conundrum then becomes if you want to upgrade the analogue -then really you should start with a better TT/arm, otherwise you'll sink money.

Simply installing the Axis on a Rega P10 for example would be a significant upgrade in my view, using the VPI as a trade in. The P10 should last you for years.

Alternately with the Volti speakers, as good as the Pass is, you should try and audition some tube amps in my view  - for example the Prima Luna integrated are very good. I think your digital might be a lot more listenable with tube amps driving the Volti's. EL34 based tube amps are what those speakers were designed around.