Analog Upgrade - Where to start?

I think you have to go with some generalizations to point yourself in your preferred direction.  As @mulveling describes earlier there are the vDH, A90, Lyra type carts and then there are the Koetsu type.  I would put SoundSmith somewhere in between that continuum.  If to have the right arm and phono stage you should be able to try those different types and see what you like.  Start used lower in the line and go from there?

Dear @karl_desch  : The OP speakers  works at around 10 ohms impedance except for two peaks, one at the midrange resonance frequency ( 53hz. ) and one at 19khz resonance tweeter.

The 60.8 is really fine with those speakers and is very good design. Along the speakers exist two OP system subwoofers.

Main " problem "  seems to me is not down there for what the OP is looking for.

R.

Dear @chilli42 : Do you already tested your 1s in both tonearms? in which performs the better? which impedance value are you trying? do you already tested the 1s with a different impedance values?

which protractor did you use for the cartridge/tonearm set up and which alignment are using with?

Thank's in advance.

R.

The most gorgeous tube sound I ever heard was the Zesto Andros phono stage. The mid line Deluxe is their sweet spot and is very close to the top line just in one chassis not two and can only take two cartridges not four. I would have the Zesto but am very happy with my Atma-Sphere MP-1. Think the Zesto has a more delicious tube sound and can stand up to the phono in the Atma and even pricier ones.
And a destination cartridge for me is my Lyra Atlas SL. The one below Etna is also good.

BTW-Definitely get a SRA platform for the TT. The entry level VR is excellent and the up line is even better. The improvement is not small.