What's my next evolution in the analog venture?

buy more lps and keep your table for now...

I have found that the better my table, the less noise I hear. Unless you are referring to gouges and scratches, a good table/arm/cartridge will tend to be quieter in the groove and thereby offer greater dynamic range. My table is basically as quiet as my cd player, which I never use anyway.
Take your $1500, sell your technics and add that to your fund, and buy something around $2000 used and you will have entered the better world of analog. You could pick up a Sota Star, VPI Classic, Oracle Delphi or Basis 2001 for that amount, each of which would be superior to your Technics. Get a nice MM like Clearaudio Virtuoso or Ortofon 2m Black or MC like Dynavector 10x5 or 17d which would mate well with that level of system.

I recently switched out turntables from a KAB modded Technics 1200 mk2 to a new VPI Traveler with Ortofon 2m Blk. The difference is not subtle and I now find myself playing more records than ever. It is more revealing but it's the music that is being revealed, the snap crakle and pop seems to be on a different plane and not as noticable. Records that I am familiar with are more lively with better bass control and vocals are more fluid and realistic. Much as I love my KAB 1200 the Traveler is a clear improvement and worth the extra $. Traveler was $1300 and 2m Black brought it to $2000, I am selling the Technics for $650 so net difference is $1350 and I feel it is worth it.

I may just hold off for a while. A new TT is one thing. Then I will want to purchase a new cart and then a new phono stage and then the next thing I know.....I've spent double my budget. I've been there done that in the home theater realm.