Help my analog sound as good as my streaming


Hi all - total newcomer here, really enjoying the forum and looking for some advice.

Relevant details: Pro-ject Debut Carbon EVO w/ stock Sumiko Rainer cartridge, into a Hegel H95 via a Parasound Zphono XRM. It sounds great-ish, but doesn’t blow me away like Qobuz via Bluesound Node 2i into the Hegel DAC. I’ll acknowledge that this entire system has a lot of room to improve in the eyes of many here - while I suppose I’ll eventually want to upgrade, I am absolutely thrilled with the streaming sound for now. 
Question: is the cartridge the weak link here, or am I expecting too much out of the PDC EVO? If the former, does the Ortofon Bronze seem a good option?

Many thanks for any suggestions/thoughts!
coys21

Showing 4 responses by coys21

Ack - apologies all. I recently added the pre-amp, and had some “help” from my teenage son hooking it up. After some further digging on the forum, I found a thread that reminded me to check the cabling. Sure enough, one of the directional rca’s from Zphono to Hegel was reversed. I haven’t had time to listen, but don’t doubt that could mess with the soundstage. Thanks again for the replies and sorry to waste your time on such silliness, assuming that’s the issue. 
All - thanks very much for the responses. 
@jjss49 I have Sonus Faber Sonetto III’s - loving them. I’m not sure which thread you’re referring to - I may have already seen it, but sounds appropriate if you wouldn’t mind pointing me.
My source material is all from the 60’s - 80’s and I think for the most part decent quality. I’ll have to do some research to see if they’re generally original vs reissue. 
While I may play around with some things before buying a new TT, I would guess that at my current price point, my ear simply prefers what the digital side can do. I think I’ll have to put in some time at my hifi shop (such punishment) to determine where the breakeven is for me in terms of analog returns sounding like i’d want. I really do think I’m an analog guy at heart, but maybe not. I will have fun finding out and will not be too sad if my budget never lets me get there - the LP’s and system I have do sound ‘great’ - they’re not going to gather dust in the meantime. And (ducking), I do love what the digital is giving me. Thanks again. 
@audio2design - I’m 50 y.o.  Source material is from my, my parent’s, and an older cousin’s collections from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, mostly. I recently decided I was significantly underinvested in my music listening delivery system. I played in a semi-serious band in the early 90’s, and we recorded at some studios that were probably higher quality than we were. My goal/hope going in was to replicate as close as possible what I could remember was the sound/feel while mixing/recording albums via the 2” tape and ‘expensive’ studio monitors. As I said, I’m thrilled with the streaming sound I have, and as of this afternoon have achieved the same (but different) ‘wow’ factor via my TT after a cable re-orientation.  I may upgrade the cartridge soon, but I think I otherwise have most itches scratched for the time being. Thanks again everyone.