I Need Some Opinions...

Instead of farting around with tweaks ( not saying you cannot do that later) get right to the chase, just replace blue point with the Hana EL. I had the blue point and replaced it with the EL and it was a world of difference. The Hana is $475. Go and read the review at positivefeedback....the guy replaced the bluepoint on the project classic sb with the hana and it was night and day. Hooked up to the musical surroundings phenomena 11+ and it’s a dream. Don’t get me wrong, that bluepoint is quite nice, but it is a high output moving coil. I’m still using my hana el and I’ve no need to upgrade to anything else. It produces a sublime sound to me, and well, others with far more trained ears agree, Herb Reichert for one! Yea, you can spend almost twice as much for the SL with shibata stylus, but prepare to be bogged down with trying to align it, and honestly will only provide a small improvement. All my own opinion 😁

delos is an overkill for any project table. Try a nagaoka mp200 mm and you cannot go wrong

An Ortofon Bronze or aforementioned Hana is as high as I would go on your current table.?

iF the magic tweak tape is affordable, treat it as a critical listening experiment and a future filter IF it does not prove revelatory..

I have a Delos on a Brinkmann Bardo with a Triplaner / HRS base and I am not totally convinced I have extracted all that CartrIdge has to offer. I have heard it extensively on a few other tables including the VPI. There are of course many other in that $2k price range...

finally do try to weather the storm and go hear some gear when things break free - a great analog dealer is IMO a must...

enjoy the journey

and the music

Jim

As for cartridge, advanced stylus shape is a primary consideration, combined with tools and skills to align it. Personally I stick with MM, higher output a consideration. Stylus I can replace.
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I agree, wait, research, hold off till you can go to one or two analog dealers. Think long, meaning time, let future considerations influence current choice.

I just upgraded my entire Phono setup, beyond where I started, couldn’t be happier, essentially set for ever now (hah). It never occurred to me to do this, it came together bit by bit, with help from members here. I am so happy I didn’t just upgrade 1 part out of context of the whole.

Large Plinth; Two Arms; 9" arm with Mono Cartridge; 12" arm with Stereo Cartridge; Both arms with VTA adjustment while playing; method of selecting which arm.

High Output MM Mono Cartridge with Elliptical Stylus for mono arm; High Output MM Stereo Cartridge with Advanced Stylus shape for long stereo arm: Micro Ridge, Micro Line, Shibata, I went with SAS, (any advanced shape giving improved contact surface with the groove). Stereo tip cantilever material? I went with Boron, more advanced materials are too brittle for my liking.

I asked about 12" arms here, (no idea where it would lead me). I read a thread here about the benefit of playing mono records with a true mono cartridge (definitely true). Two arms means no changing headshell/cartridge/re-calibration during a listening session, a wonderful thing. Thus the project became a dual arm deck.

I mixed vintage and new, kept the cost down fairly well I think, entire project including new alignment tools, manual lp cleaning unit, end of play safety lifter, quality phono cable, minor accessories: $4,270. Much more than my original thought, did all at once: but I could have had the whole project in mind, and proceeded piece by piece knowing the end goal. The key is to think long now which is why I am telling you (and members here who helped) all this.

Vintage JVC Dual Arm Large Plinth with two removable arm boards and it’s 7 layer plinth construction; a vintage JVC spinner TT81, a vintage 9" arm; new mono MM cartridge with elliptical stylus; new 12.5" arm; stylus SAS tip, boron shaft for existing Shure MM cartridge.

Oh yeah, Analog for Analog. I sold my Solid State preamp and amp and switched back to Tubes. Happily the vintage McIntosh tube tuner/preamp has 2 MM phono inputs, just turn the selector for mono or stereo arm. McIntosh also has separate trim controls for those inputs, so you can equalize the signal strength of the two phono outputs (I don’t bother, but a nice option some like).
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Which cartridge, such a simple question.

I think you should consider your sources while making your analog direction decision. Do you have a large number of lps in good condition to play? Or are you ready to buy more? Are you willing to learn how to properly set up a cartridge? Or do you listen to mostly digital? I have always been 90% or more an analog listener so when upgrading my analog setup (which I did in phases over a 2-3 year period) these decisions were easy. My system is posted here. Let me know if you have any specific questions about my analog journey. Have fun learning and researching!