Need advice for upgrading my analog setup

@chocaholic 

Sure. I assume you mean setting up the VTA… etc. We are all guessing to some extent. Hoping to identify the weakest link that will bring the greatest improvement for the investment. 
 

I guess one of the best things is that even if you identify the wrong thing and upgrade something that is not the weakest link, it’s still going to sound better. Provided you don’t get something that is just plain not to your taste or is incompatible, you win. Next upgrade you’ll probably pick that one and get a really big gain.

Sounds like you received some great advice.

If you love vinyl and really want to get the most enjoyment from your system, become a “student” of the hobby and read, discuss with others about proper set up and room acoustics.

1. Learn how to use (or get a friend to help you with) a Smartractor. Getting proper cartridge alignment will solve many issues.

2. Watch Michael Fremer’s YouTube video on setting VTA with a mini microscope. It gets you close to 92 degrees then you can finish by ear.

3. After about 50 hours on your new cartridge, adjust the VTF.

4. I’m still not good at this, but read about best practices for setting Azimuth.

5. Watch Art Noxon (Asc, Acoustical Sciences) videos about proper room set up and acoustics.

Hope this helps! Enjoy!! 

+1 for the Technics 1200G. It is definitely a buy once table. It looks great in person. Would love to see it go head-to-head with the SOTA. If I didn't get the Technics, I would have gotten a SOTA.

While I’ve been away from this thread from work travels, I notice a lot of discussions regarding the pairing of cartridges to phono preamps concerning price ratios.

IMO, such discourse should mention the output of the phono cartridge being suggested.

While I’m not intimately familiar with the OP’s Darlington Labs MP-7 phono preamp, I feel an expensive high output cartridge can yield positive results when used with a modest phono preamp better than opposite scenario with low output pickups.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Although the OP originally stated he did not want to change his preamp, seems that suggesting an upgrade to match the level of his turntable and cartridge is simply trying to help him achieve better sonics. Pointing out weak links in the audio chain seems helpful and not disrespectful of his original position.  Respectful criticism with the intent to help the OP seems like a good thing.