Help Upgrading My Phono Chain


Hi good people of Audiogon.I have been slowly upgrading my system, in all respects except for my phono chain.Here is my current system:

Bluesound Node (Amazon prime)=>Border Patrol SEi DAC =>Shindo Partager=>Quicksilver Mono 120 Monoblocks (most recent version running KT150 tubes) =>Vandersteen 3a Signature speakers with two Vandersteen 2WQ subwoofers.Cambridge Great British Sound Digital player.Interconnects are Audio Envy and speaker cables are Rocket 88 Audioquest. 

My phono is a Rega Planar 3 with the stock Elys2 MM cartridge.I also own a Quicksilver MC=>MM step-up transformer
(SUT).Now that I have a great phono preamp in Partager, I would like to see what I can do, perhaps incrementally.I realize that neither the table or the cartridge is at the level of the rest of my system and am trying to choose between the following strategies:

1) Just replace the cartridge now and see where it gets me.Replace the table later.
2) Replace the cartridge and the table together now.

I realize I have a choice between MM and MC cartridges, and wonder if I should go with MM (or high output MC) because the Shindo is set up for MM.I can always use the Quicksilver SUT, and I know that the Auditorium 23 SUT is often recommended for Shindo.I would be happy to invest up to $800 on the cartridge now, if it would inform me of the potential of the rest of the phono chain, and then upgrade the table later.The total I want to invest in the entire phono chain is $3,000.

I realize that there are a lot of variables to select from here, and appreciate any wisdom that can be offered.

Thanks,
Mike


mjschwartzman
Does the $3000 also get the added benefit of selling your P3 ensemble used?  That would increase your budget some...
Love Rega products in general but have never been a fan of their cartridges. Replace that Elys with a Dynavector 20X2 H or a Clearaudio Virtuoso V2 Ebony. A significant sonic improvement.
I traded in a planar 2 with a bunch of upgraded items (groovetracer stuff, upgraded tonearm, etc) to hifi-heaven out of Wisconsin recently and came out very good. I traded up to a current model planar 8 without cartridge and was very happy with how everything worked out. I did the whole thing through the mail as I'm in another state. If they carry a table you are interested in you might inquire about trade in value on your p3. 
Before I upgraded my TT I bought a Hana Cartridge to replace the Grado. Great improvement.  Hana has option for your MM phono stage starting about $450 to $1250.
I would recommend a Technics SL-1200G turntable. I do have a DEMO..This would allow you to get a turntable that's manufactured at such a high level. Precision in tolerances that have made Technics so famous. The sky's your limit with cartridges also ! It makes famous companies seem like a garage operation. 

For $3K you can get a Well Tempered Simplex and a Dynavector 20Xv2
either HO or LO to use w/your SUT.  Other carts...Hana SL or SH, Benz ACE.  Rega has a new one, Ania Pro, for $1095...you could start with that on your P3 and see if that gets you where you want to be.  
I would highly recommend a Technics SL1200GR for aprox $1,600, then spend up to around $1,000 on a really nice cart, and you’ll still have $400 to buy a KAB fluid damper for $150.00. 
If you want to start slow, upgrade your cartridge. I went from an Elys 2 on my P3, to a Dynavector 10X5; major upgrade, immediately audible! I haven't heard the 20X2, but am sure it's even better..