Cartridges

@hysteve 

You have a fairly balanced system. I am familiar with most of the gear you have.

The problem is that the tonearm is the weak link if it is the VPI unipivot and you won't get the best out of a cartridge upgrade.

The conundrum then becomes if you want to upgrade the analogue -then really you should start with a better TT/arm, otherwise you'll sink money.

Simply installing the Axis on a Rega P10 for example would be a significant upgrade in my view, using the VPI as a trade in. The P10 should last you for years.

Alternately with the Volti speakers, as good as the Pass is, you should try and audition some tube amps in my view  - for example the Prima Luna integrated are very good. I think your digital might be a lot more listenable with tube amps driving the Volti's. EL34 based tube amps are what those speakers were designed around.

 the folks who put down the uni pivot is because it is too difficult for their level of mechanical knowledge to adjust it properly. 

What an arrogant statement.

Not in my case mate.

I have listened to VPi unipivots for 30 years, set up a few, along with many other unipivots - Hadcock, Mayware, Audiocraft, and many others - still own a Naim Aro.

It is the VPI unipivot that is the issue - it's not a great arm. It might meet your standards, it doesn't meet mine - and has nothing to do with set up. The Naim Aro or even an older Graham unipivot will leave it for dead.

Lunacy to put a $5-12k cartridge on an average performing tonearm. Yes, it will sound better, but upgrading the tt & arm for the same budget will yield much more.

@baylinor 

Didn't mean to show arrogance, sorry for those offended. I see many posts of folks who don't even attempt to install a cart on a uni pivot and have to get a "professional" to do it for them and charge them multiple hours labor to do so. 

Thank you -  I do agree with you that unfortunately with analogue setting up poorly is a common issue. When I had a shop in the 80's I was very surprised at how poorly most front ends were set up from what I regarded as experienced audiophiles.

One major advance though is that today tools, manuals and in general product  today are designed for easy setup, and info on how to is freely available.

Comes back to that old chestnut - read the manual ( twice ) before setting up.