Upgrade suggestions


Hi
I use my turntable as a source for less than five percent of my listening, but I am contemplating an upgrade and looking for advice.
I listen to classical music. I currently have been using a Rega P5 table with a PS Audio phono stage. I have had the table for 5 years and have never upgraded from the Rega mm cartridge that it came with.
the rest of my system is an Ayre preamplifier, Parasound Power amp, and some Digital sources (Marantz 803 SACD, NAd DVD-A player both fed into a PS Audio Digital Link DAC). Speakers are B&W 803-D.
budget up to $3000.
richardfinegold
One of the challenges when asking for advice on Audiogon is that you often get way more good advice than you can practically (or financially) act on. ;)

There are a couple themes that run through the suggestions that have been made here I'd highlight to you -- first, your turntable and arm are fine -- don't bother replacing them. Second, an important part of upgrading your sound is getting a couple essential accessories -- a good alignment protractor (as Macdadtexas suggests) and (I would still argue) a good record cleaning machine. To which I would add, on reflection, an Onzow Zerodust to clean the stylus on your cartridge.

There seems to be a consensus that your GCPH phono preamp is a good fit for the rest of your system (I had suggested a phono preamp upgrade, but bow to the collective wisdom of the other respondents).

Then, look for a good cartridge upgrade oppotrunity. I agree with those who suggest a used cartridge from Audiogon is a definite option, but second Coltrane1's word of caution -- purchase only from a seller with pretty hefty positive feedback -- a lot of used cartridges have been abused. The biggest challenge you face is that phono cartridges, like speakers, have real personalities and make performance/price trade-offs. So you may want to set your purchase price range to allow you to pick two or three, and purchase them one at a time, as Coltrane1 and Lak suggest.

Hope you have fun with your upgrading.
Rdavwhitaker,
I agree with all of the feedback you have received.I've owned many Rega tables (& still use Rega tonearms).I always found the Rega cartridge to be the weak link in an all Rega turntable set-up).I found The well reviewed and very affordable Ortofon OM-30 Super to be a significant improvement over the top-of-the -line Rega Exact.Other cartridges that have worked well for me with stock and modified RB-250 & 300 arms are the Dynavector 20x,Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood,and Ortofon 2M Blue & Bronze.All of these cartridges cost under $1000 (The Blue and Bronze are less than $500).

On the other hand,a new table can be fun.The Marantz TT-15S1 comes with an $800 Clearaudio cartridge and retails for less than $1500.I've seen them used for as low as $750.I got a great deal on a new Acoustic Signature Manfred with an RB-250 arm.
Vintage tables can be fun as well.I've been collecting Dual CS 5000 tables(I have 4)and just acquired a Thorens TD 125.The 125 fitted with a Rega or other fine arm is supposed to be a World Class Table!

Sorry about the rambling.
Thank you all for your responses. I think that I will try another cartridge.
It is nice to see the Rega P5 so well regarded. One of my issues was speed stability, particularly at the end of a side of an lp. I bought their outboard power supply which was supposed to be an upgrade in speed regulation, and I detect no audible difference. I was wondering if another manufacturer was better in this department, such as VPI.
The reason that I don't listen to more vinyl is the "software" issue. Nothing is more satisfying than a pristine lp, but I'm tired of buying at stores, ebay, etc and getting the usual 40 year old warped discs. I have cleaning fluids, brushes, etc, and the Rega record clamp, but I still find those issues limiting.