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Time to upgrade my turntable?

Current signal chain:
Technics SL1210mk2 with KAB fluid damper kit, internal ground and arm cabling kit, Ortofon Blue
McIntosh C220 pre
MC7270 power
Ohm Super Walsh 4.4012


So I have just gotten this system all pieced together from items I've had in storage (the speakers are new), and just realized my stylus is MIA on the Ortofon Blue. 

I was thinking of upgrading to the Ortofon Black or something similar, maybe MC. Then the thought hit me, maybe it's just time to upgrade the table rather than hoping for a material increase in SQ from just a new cart. I love the technics for what it is but frankly it's ugly. That said I would want to stay in the world of Direct Drive, and have a serious interest in the Technics G/GR. 

So, what are your thoughts?
Is a $700 cart on my SL1210 overkill?
Would a GR and a Black give me noticeable improvements?
Other tables I should be considering?

Thanks
zdw11
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 
The G is a different animal compared to the GR. Also a lot more expensive. If you think your 1200 is ugly, can you live with a GR that looks very similar? Yes, a 2M Black on a new GR would outshine your older table. If you go the 1200G/GR route, consider the Cadenza Black.
morningstaraudio's avatar
morningstaraudio
154 posts
 
Fern & Roby  Montrose turntable
relayer101's avatar
relayer101
606 posts
 
If you are interested in changing to a Moving Coil cartridge look into the Hana Shibata MC cartridges for $750 at a similar price to the Ortofon Black MM cart.  They are offered in a low or high output. Hana makes a great MC cart for the money.
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