Next upgrade for vinyl rookie

As others have mentioned, you've got a good arm and cart, but a not so good table and phono pre. 400$ won't get you far w/ the table, but it will w/ the pre. I'll second TWL's suggestion concerning the end stub, Sugarbrie's tip on alignment, and Nrenter's vote for the DiscDoctor stuff. If you still feel like spending some money, I'd get the Monolithic phono pre. They can be found here on audiogon for >300$ (and check out the tubed phone pre kit at bottlehead.com--interesting). You can take the arm and phono pre w/ you when you have enough for a significantly better table. Have fun.

I have the Express machine end stub w/ the Heavyweight counterweight. I like the sound of my system which is 1 year old. I just have that bug to upgrade to get a little more out of my system. I have the Disc Doctor Cleaner. You guys know how it is the upgrade fever.

Well, Trip your arm clearly exceeds the capability of your table. I'd look at that option, and if you have to wait a little to save the money, do that. The table will yield the most sonic benefits.

Thanks for all the advice. I will have to decide now to either get the Monolithic Phono amp or the Rega P3, either way the investment will be worth it.

Trip, If all you are stepping up to is a P3, then I don't recommend it. The main difference between a P2 and P3 is the cost of the arm. You may not even hear any difference between those 2 tables. Moving to a P3 could hardly be called an upgrade from a P2. You need to make more of a move than that to get any real results. Save your money for a higher level table. Just listen to what you've got while you're waiting.

I'd recommend the phono stage if you are thinking along the lines of a P3 for a table upgrade(upgrade?).