Upgrading My Cart

I have only had two turntables in my 63 years of living. The first was a Thorens TD320. A good turntable and I cannot remember the stock cartridge. I was about 23 years old. Went through the digital age and hadn’t had a TT for about 35+ years. Then I got a VPI Prime X turntable and a fellow audiophile recommended a SoundSmith cartridge that cost 1/2 the price of the VPI. Now the sound is spectacular. Most of my albums sound truly great. If I rated the Thorens a 4 out of 10, the VPI (with that cart. ) is a 9 without question. I also have a $5K streamer and a $1200 DAC. Most days the sound quality is on equal ground between the TT and digital setup. Many days the TT sounds better.

@2psyop Interesting choice of plinth color. I like it. I also enjoy my Prime X it’s a great table!

@rickisme I’m running a Hana ML cartridge which is a good amount under $2,000 price range but it’s excellent. I’ve heard great things about the next model up Hana Umami Blue and am considering it for my next cartridge, together with Lyra Delos, Audio Technica ART9 and a couple of Dynavector models. 
Read up on Hana Umami Blue  

" I’ve heard great things about the next model up Hana Umami Blue and am considering it for my next cartridge, together with Lyra Delos, Audio Technica ART9"

audphile-

I can speaker directly to that.

A Delos is on my VPI, and I've used the ART9 too. I only have the Delos because of a smokin deal persuading me to forgo sending my crashed ART9 back to AT for the discount purchase of a new ART9 which still would come in over $1300 with shipping/tax(still reasonable)d. I found a very low mileage Delos for considerably LESS than the AT replacement cost.

What I hear between the 2-

Delos is a smidge more refined in highs and vocals a wee bit more organic sounding. Bass isn't less present(like many report) but little more refined and "shaped" compared to ART9 which presents it as more impactful/punchy when the recording is good.

Between the 2 at full retail- ART9 for me. On my table/setup Delos not worth spending the extra $800.

Phonostage naturally influences final sound. I use tube.

Both will be a worthy/easily heard upgrade to your existing Hana ML.

Also consider the lower output ART9XA. Perhaps closer to Delos performance over the XI. Something to do with air core vs magnetic core of the XI, resulting in subtle refined presentation?

Thanks, all, for your perspectives.  I'm leaning now more toward my original Soundsmith  option after reading what's been said.  Also, I believe they will re-tip my stylus on the Blue Point if I chose to revisit it at a later time.