Upgrade from Rega Elys 2

Pear Audio tables/arms could be worth considering as well, they are in fact very much based on Nottingham design. I have not auditioned them but heard high praise, especially of their top of the line set-up.

My thinking exactly. Upgrade the table and then move from there. Cartridge is the least important element, within reason, of table/arm/cartridge/phono set-up. I use $375 ( from the UK ) Goldring 1042 MM cartridge with Nottingham Spacedeck/Spacearm table and AcousTech phono and feel no need to upgrade the cartridge. I would upgrade the phono with a great tube unit if I could, though the AcousTech is very good.

I see. I would suggest then to stay with MM cartridge. Rega Exact would be a logical step up, Nagaoka 500 may be an excellent if expensive choice.

As far as I know, there is only one distributor/dealer in the US - Hollywood Sound in Florida. I talked to Larry, the owner, a few times but don't know how he sells outside his area. He really likes Nottingham and strongly prefers MCs with them. Problem is that good MC are expensive and require better and quieter phono. I cannot justify paying, say, $1500 for top of the line Goldring MC or close to $2000 for Lyra Delos, as examples.