Direction on my next upgrade

Have you used this Raven amp that you always recommend? Why do you think it is so special over many other amps that are on the market? 

I have a stellar record when it comes to figuring out what is good based on reviews and comments. Read willgolf, he had a Reflection MkII. Then watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcd76DZmbdY

Would I get any noticeable benefit from going from the $230 ortofon blue to a $750 ortofon black(also upgrading the rogue)?

Of course you will. The beauty of "everything matters" is no matter what you improve, its improved, and you will hear it.  

The question for me then becomes, so what makes the most sense to improve? Almost never its a component upgrade. Because almost always there's something much cheaper like a cone or other tweak or mod that will get you at least as much net improvement without the net cost hassle of losing depreciation value and the hassle of selling.  

Plus the longer you wait between components the more time for technology to actually improve. Speakers improved so much my $16k Talon Khorus were replaced with much better Tekton Moabs that cost me hardly anything net but are leagues better performance. You may not want to hang onto anything 16 years but you get the idea. Its better to save up and make great strides than baby steps. 

In the mean time its not like you're standing still. One little piece of fO.q tape stuck anywhere on your arm will make about as much improvement as you'll hear between those carts you're considering. Maybe more. One little piece. The whole sheet costs $70. By the time you get done finding places to use all that tape, let me know if you don't think its easily ten times the price in improvements. Tweaks are like that. HFT are like that. 

Wait a few months and upgrade my integrated?

If you upgrade to a Raven that will be huge. Mega. Best of all will put you in a place you can pretty much forget about amps for years and years. By the time you tweak it out real good it will be hard to find anything better for less than a house.  

Also Raven is supposed to be coming out with new improved versions this fall. I'm hoping for something like a Black Friday sale for an Osprey.  

But that's me. You have to be you. Maybe you get so much from the pleasure of having something new its worth it to be getting something new all the time. Its not just about knowing components, you know. Its also about knowing yourself.

All the options you're considering have one thing in common: they are all spending money on expendable components you will inevitably lose money on when it comes time to upgrade. 

Things that will improve your system as much or more without ever losing any money because they will be used wherever you go forever: Synergistic Research HFT, ECT, PHT, Cable Elevators, BDR Cones. 

You are getting into a range where with some wise decisions its possible to find extremely high value components in the $3k to $5k range. That may seem like a lot, 2x to 4x what you're talking about. But really all it means is spreading it out over a longer period of time. This patience is rewarded by getting you into Koetsu, Raven, Herron, Tekton territory. 

You mention a sub. A sub is a bad idea. A DBA, four subs, is a terrific idea. For around $3k you can have SOTA bass. Most of us with a DBA are set for life. No desire to upgrade. How many can say that about their bass???  So a sub could be a good idea- if its phase one of four. 

Anyway that's my advice. Extract the most from what you have first, and only then look to upgrade what you have. See: mahgister.