Next upgrade for my analog source

So what do you hope for this upgrade should do for your listening pleasure? 🤔
Will help to maybe narrow down those choices, methinks. 
Michélle 

Have you rolled the tubes in the EAR? A set of NOS Telefunkens would breathe new life into it. Replace the Nag with an MP500 (or NOS MP50 if you can find one) and you might be surprised. 

jadislover, I would go for the Lyra. If you go for a phono amp you'd best look at a Channel D Lino C 2.0. It is eons away from any other phono amp in it's price range, just ask Michael Fremer. I am very seriously considering getting one and I have always used ARC phono stages.
If you buy Pure Vinyl you can use your computer to equalize the record and record vinyl to your hard drive. This allows you to do neat stuff like compare different cartridges using the same record. 

"unless you operate on it, you can't use your Rega tonearm with the Channel D"

Michael Fremer

Justmetoo hmm i just want to upgrade the listening experience. 
Noromance yes I have rolled tubes and to be honest the 834p is a great fonostage

mijostyn thanks for the advice.. but I live in south east asian and dont think that brand has a dealer/distributor here

Ok, "upgrade the listening experience"...
That may mean different things to different folks, so let me try what I have to say. 
This is of course always based on individual experience 😉
Where to get the most bang for your buck I'd say is important in far away places.
I live in South Africa, so I guess I can qualify for this. 

Your EAR 834P I've heard, my son has/had this one. Slightly euphonic but since you like it and I thought it was jolly nice too, that would stay in my opinion.

Your REGA tt... P6 had also pretty good reviews at the time, also in my mind a good match to your EAR, I'd keep also.
To go *noticeably* up in performance will set you back mega bucks!
I know, having gone up from a pretty nice modified entry PROJECT tt to my SME 10 with appropriate SME V tonearm.

That in my take will mean, looking at your MP200, yes.
Again I also know the MP50 (not 500, but very similar I'm told)
Given that, now you mention a Lyra Delos, LOMC... I'd say this in my estimate is shooting too high, as you other items I mentioned would pretty much immediately as for more upgrading to make the move work best for you, IMHO.
So what's the alternative to your MP 200 then?!? 
I suggest a very NICE MM cartridge, something better than an MP500 even. And NOT an e.g. Ortofon 2M Black and such either, I heard them, I'm not too impressed... 

This better could be some top of the range Audio Technica, more easily availble in your location?
If you can find a Garrot P77, I listen to one right now, and it beats my Ortofon Cadenza Black and Quintet Black MCs (to my ears), in fact if you make it a project, try and find a top NOS MM on the web, so long you sure to take undamaged delivery.
(No more to be trusted here in SA, you best know your situation I'd estimate). 

Lastly, if your PCM speakers have bi-wiring terminals, use a good single wire speaker cable, terminated preferably with cable shoes and connected to the BASS terminals!
Then make sure to replace any plated sheet metal jumpers with decent, short wire jumpers using also spade connectors most preferably. 

All that ought to make a difference to your listening experience for sure, IMHO. 

Let us know how it all goes, but the first and most imortant step would be a top MM cartridge, I'd say. 😉
M. 

jperry, that makes absolutely no sense. Why would a tone arm make it impossible to use a computer program? If you had a turntable with a built in phono amp with equalization you could still use Pure Vinyl to record you would just deactivate it's equalization feature. Check out Channel D's web site. The only problem I have with Pure Music which I use the most is that every two hours or so it will choke and has to be rebooted. Something to do with a memory overload with the newer apple operating systems. It is supposed to be corrected next release. 
justmetoo, just because you prefer MM cartridges does not mean everyone has to buy one. The vast majority of critical listeners with elaborate systems over the $75,000 dollar mark prefer MC cartridges. I would take any Lyra cartridge over any MM cartridge in a heartbeat and I am absolutely sure I am not alone in that sentiment. This does not include Grado and probably Soundsmith as they are moving iron cartridges. 
Jadislover, Channel D is direct purchase only. You buy it on line. The unit runs on batteries and I believe has a universal power supply for recharging which it does automatically when you turn it off. But you should check if it runs on the power you have.

@mijostyn ,

Below is an excerpt from the Stereophile review you cited:

"Being a current-mode phono preamplifier—one in which a dead short takes the place of a resistive load, and current amplification takes the place of voltage amplification—the Lino C 2.0 is intended for use only with cartridges of low output and low internal impedance—the lower impedance, the better. The closer the Lino gets to seeing a short circuit, the happier it and you will be—as long as your tonearm wiring doesn’t tie chassis common ground to the cartridge’s signal leads—which means that unless you operate on it, you can’t use your Rega tonearm with the Channel D."

I was curious about the product, read the review and noticed the caveat. No need for the OP to buy something that doesn’t work with other equipment.

Best Regards,

Jim Perry

Justmetoo and jperry thanks for the input!. My rega p6 tt output cables are built in (cant be replaced) and does not have a separate ground cable. Would this hinder the improvements if i go lyra delos? 
Yes my pmc has biwiring terminals and yes I am only using the base terminal, and using the jumper meta (small clyindrical bronze). Would the sound improve if i change to jumper cables?

currently im auditioning the ps audio stellar phonostage pre amp. First impression is the detail and sound stage is really good... but the sound is a bit thin compared  to my 834p. Probably needs more break in time.

@jadislover,

I owned a 834P for over a decade. It's known to have a better sounding mm stage than it's mc stage. If you go for a lomc,  you"ll need a SUT and another phono cable.

This is a tough one. All your equipment is relatively good.
Improving any one will be an incremental improvement.

Interesting that all your choices are a little on the euphonic side.
Maybe take a step with any one of these elements toward a very precise analytic side. This may add a little more resolution.

Maybe the next cartridge is a Microline?
Maybe the next turntable is a direct drive?
Maybe the next phonostage is solid state?

Two phono preamps I can recommend in your price range are made by Lejonklou, I have heard both and they are great phono preamps each dedicated MM or MC. You can look at reviews on-line, and hopefully do a home audition if interested

Slipsik 7: moving magnet phono preamp

Signal Gain- 41 dB

Retail Price: $1795.00

 

Entity: moving coil phono preamp

Input Impedance- 90, 120, 180 Ohms switchable / +10 nF

Signal Gain- 71 dB

Retail Price: $2695.00

Best Regards,

Jim Perry

So what’s the alternative to your MP 200 then?!?
I suggest a very NICE MM cartridge

Let us know how it all goes, but the first and most imortant step would be a top MM cartridge, I’d say. 😉
M.

I agree with the statement above. 

Stanton SC-100 WOS is one of my favorite and it is not the most expensive MM, the sound is magical. Stereohedron II profile!

Pioneer PC-1000 MKII is in this league too, also not expensive, but very rare.

If you have a budget over $1k then Grace LEVEL II (Ruby, Sapphire, Boron or Beryllium...)  

I used to own a Lyra Argo i which is (or rather was) a step up from the Delos. My preamp was a Rega IOS (predecessor to AURA) which is a pricey but very clean and quiet phono stage. I found the IOS was the only preamp of several I tried that had synergy with the Lyra. It was a nice combination that was light and airy but somehow seemed to lack bass weight. I now own a Nagaoka MP200 (yes, same as yours). I play through a relatively inexpensive phono stage that way outperforms it’s cost. Honestly, the NAGA is a very sweet cart and sounds a bit better "in my system" than the Lyra with the exception of some minor mistracking of the most severe tracks on a few LPs. You may also want to audition the NAGAOKA MP 500 if you are unsatisfied with the 200 and try a few different phono stages to get the right balance for your system.

If you really want to upgrade buy entirely new/different cartridge, for the price of MP500 there are many alternatives. If you like nagaoka you can just upgrade stylus, not cartridge. 

But if you want something different it's about new cartridge from different designer and with different presentation. 

Thanks for all the inputs! Greatly appreciated.

my rega p6 tt does not have a separate ground line and the fono cable is not replaceable. Would this negate any benefits if i upgrade to higher priced cartridges?

Jperry, that is true and it is an extremely easy thing to disconnect chassis ground from the signal wires. With a warm soldering Iron it might take me 10 minutes. It is unfortunate that something like this should scare an audiophile. To disregard what might be the absolute best value in a phono amp for that reason is rather silly. IMHO the minimum audiophile kit is a set of small screwdrivers,  set of metric Allen wrenches. small diagonal cutters, small needle nose pliers a soldering iron and some solder. Shrink wrap of various sizes is a nice add on.  Not having this is like a cyclist who can't work on his bike so for every little adjustment he has to go back to the bike store? Helpless. 

Maybe he doesn’t want to screw around with it, I wouldn’t.

By the way, did you hear the phono preamp you were touting, or just read the review?

Have a great day.

I hope it came through that one absolutely cannot use a current Drive phono stage with a moving magnet cartridge. Only a select few moving coil cartridges that have particularly low internal resistance and low voltage output can be used advantageously with a current Drive phono  stage. So if you upgrade to a current drive phono  stage, de facto you will have to get a new cartridge.

 Being a contrarian and unlikely to please those with the
gear upgrade bug, look at your room and see what acoustic
treatments might help.

Once the room is improved  {assuming you already haven't}
you can make changes from a reasonable acoustic foundation.

Otherwise it's like chasing one's tail.

Or, you can subconsciously select speakers that compensate for your room problems.  That isn't so crazy, because no room is ever perfect, and even if you have a good room, you eventually will have selected speakers that work well in it. That said, I agree that some people live with glaring room problems that are ignored in favor of decor.

Woe mule,

I may/maynot be missing something here.
According to what you’ve written

"Preamp and amp are using Lumley Reference",

which means you’re more than likely using the Ray Lumley Pv1 reference pre-amp.

Now to the best of my knowledge the PV1 had a pretty good phonostage in it (unless yours was line only), so the question arises: why are you using EAR 834P phonostage? And B: why are you thinking of blowing more cash (+ interconnects) on a PS audio Stellar phonostage?

If anything, re-cap the PV1, get some new tubes and with the money you save on another phonostage, consider a better M.I cartridge, such as a Soundsmith Aida MkII. Same price as the Lyra, has a lower mass than a MM, and with 2.8mV’s of output you’ll be fine with the gain the Lumley Pv1 has.

The other thing I’d like to add is your idea of purchasing the PMC 24’s. DON"T DO IT! Use the money you save towards a pair of FACT 8’s!!! New/or used.The Facts are so far ahead of the Twenties it’s unbelieveable. In another league altogether. In comparison the 24’s are dead/lifeless. I don’t say this lightly! I spent several hours at Altronics in Toronto, and spun several LP’s and the profound difference is real.

As for the Rega table? https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649566500-oracle-delphi-mk2-late-model-that-looks-like-mk3/i... Try to track one of these down. I’d suggest without an arm, that way you can customize your compliances.

Enjoy the music.

Hello,
The Rega P6 TT is a great turntable for the money. If your cartridge is in good shape and has life left in it I would go with the PS Audio Stellar option. I believe they let you try it before committing to it. Also you can trade in your old Phono stage to ease the money after you do an A/B comparison. If you do not like the Stellar. You can move to the cartridge which will not be returnable. 

Thehorn my lumley does not have fonostage input... 
I already own the PMC 24's .. the speakrs im using now

hshifi, yes am currently auditioning the ps audio stellar fonostage.. currectly still in breakin mode.. what i feel already is the detail and soundstage improvement.. but the sound still feels a bit thin. Lets do more breakin to find out if its major improvement over the 834p

BTW
The 834P responds well to all kinds of upgrades, not just NOS tubes.

One of it's drawbacks is the fact that the circuit board isn't supported well at all. This may account for it's responding well to upgrades  like isolation/decoupling for one.

OK i finally bit the bullet and bought the ps audio stellar phonostage after auditioning it... the details, soundstage, and mid is a level above the 834P. And it serves as good foundation when I do decide to upgrade the rega p6 (currently eyeing the VPI prime) or to upgrade the cartridge (lyra MC)

jperry, I've heard it's big brother The L20 extensively and the circuitry is almost identical. The big one just has more units resulting in a lower signal to noise ratio. I would buy one tomorrow but it is $42,000.00.
After reading the TAS review it is obvious that the little guy has all of the major virtues of the L20 now in it's MkII version.