Next upgrade for my analog source

@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.