So what would you recommend for my next upgrade?


I'd be interested in your thoughtful recommendations for my little system. With some recent help on "tuning" the speakers, it's beginning to sound very nice. But, you know, there's always room to grow . . . or spend money. Equipment list is as follows. So what's my next step . . . uh I mean investment?

Analog Front End:
Rega Planar 3 turntable
Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge
Connection to phono amp: MIT cables (ancient, no network box)
NAD PP 2i phono preamp
Connectors out: MIT MI-330 Plus interconnects

Digital Front End:
Rega Planet
MIT MI-330 Plus output interconnects

Amp:
Bryston B-60 integrated
Bottlehead Foreplay preamp is available
Zu Julian speaker cables - 12' (can go to 6' now)

Speakers:
Thiel 1.5s

Notes:
Own 4000+ vinyl records and growing continuously
Own 100 CDs and growing slowly
Set up for near field listening
Room under construction - will tune it when that is done

Thanks!
dancub
I think that the Audiomods and the phono pre are great suggestions here. What phono pre will depend on your budget.
Dancub - just curious, but I'm interested to know if your amp drives your speakers with ease or if the B-60 is being challenged with a little workout by the Thiel's. The Bryston B-60 is a little power house, but the 1.5's (if I'm not mistaken) with sensitivity of 86db, and 4ohms, can be a difficult load with some amps. It does look like a fun little combination though!
It can drive them OK. But, if you really wanna knock your socks off, a bigger amp (another Bryston or other make) would be a plus, imo. In the Bryston line up, I would go with a 4B with those Thiels.
I would upgrade the speakers. The Thiels need more power/current to perform at there best. IMO the 1.5's don't justify spending more money on an amp/pre or even a larger Bryston intergrated. Since you like the Thiel sound think outside the box(lol)and consider a Martin Logan-ElectroMotion.