New preamp or up grade my cartridge and or phono amp?

@soix

+1

Given your current selection, I would start with a good quality preamp, then move to a better phonostage.

It depends on where you want to go, how far? You are in the process of "evolving" your system. The only wear item is the cartridge. You have to replace them once in a while. If your goal is to build a reference system then make big steps when you can afford them. Do not waste money on little steps if they are not at the final level you wish to achieve. I would do turntable, tonearm and cartridge as a package. If you are short money compromise on the cartridge as that will need replacing in the future anyway. A good table and Arm will last many decades. In your situation I would not buy a preamp. I would get a phono stage at the quality of your final system and plug that into your Emotiva. Equipment that represents the highest value would be the Channel D Lino C phono stage, the Sota Sapphire Turntable, The Kuzma 4 Point 9 tonearm and the Soundsmith Sussurro Gold cartridge. 

I’m not a Rega fan but my one cent contribution would be that it’s the Emotiva that is holding your system back.  Junk that, get a proper set of separates, and then scrap the Rega stuff when funds allow 

WAF means, EVERYTHING stays in the large family room, unless I put a 2 CH system in a small 9X9 bedroom. So the preamp would have to have a HT bypass.  But I'm still kind of stuck on why the preamp is so important if I'm using the "Reference Mode" which is supposed to be a straight shot through. Unless it isn't. Not sure I can justify more than $3K extra for this upgrade. I'm about to retire and would prefer to stay married through this process(as in it wouldn't be any fun enjoying a really nice system in a studio apt.) 😅

What are you trying to achieve with any proposed "upgrade"?  The Rega setup you have is very balanced and a good performer.  To do significantly better would require a substantial investment.  But that would then trigger a new preamp and probably new loudspeakers plus a new power amplifier.  At that point you'd have to get acoustic treatments and power conditioners.  And don't forget cables!  Like I said, your existing analog setup is very balanced.