If you had $12k / £10k to upgrade your analogue front-end...

What are you running now?

Having used Thorens/SME combos my entire adult life I would start by comparing their new 1600/1601 decks to some of the non-suspended models you list.

The 1601 has automatic lift and platter stop @ the end of play, but I do not completely understand its cuing mechanism (the 1600 is completely manual).

DeKay

With what you have maybe start by simply trying another cartridge with enough output to mate with your current Moon?

Based upon reviews the Performance V2 can easily be bettered (the Ace/Concept have stellar reviews).

If this does it then good (you could alway add a step-up/MC later or go with the Moon separates) and there is no downside if you choose the higher output cartridge wisely.

See what your current deck is capable of before moving on.

Take a look (reviews) at the Nagaoka MP-500.

DeKay

cannula:

I was suggesting starting with a new/different cartridge (only) fo a start.

A cartridge with a bit more detail and jump factor may be all you need.

Your TT is reviewed as being slightly smoother than typical non-suspended decks in its price range and above (not a bad thing) and your cartridge is reviewed as being somewhat "static" sounding (probably not a great match as you are looking for a more exciting sound).

It’s easier (less confusing) to change one thing @ a time and sometimes that one thing is all that’s needed.

Years ago I was looking @ new TT’s and CD decks because I was not happy with the bass/mid-bass of the one’s I’m still using.

The Thorens/SME had a hollow/reverb quality and the CAL (CD) was a bit thick/mushy.

During the course of the search I added a couple of after market custom shelves (ordered months before) to my rack for the source gear.

Doing so remedied what I disliked about the sound of both and I ended up keeping them (the improvement was so great on the CD deck that I ended up selling the DAC I was using as I discovered that with the new shelf I preferred the sound of the internal DAC).

Changing one thing (the shelf) was all that was necessary.

DeKay

Sorry no...

The last time I listened to newer cartridges was around 2010 and they were a couple of inexpensive Denon MC's popular @ the time.

I have 20 year old Grado Prestige Silver/Gold bodies, an old lackluster Ortofon 15 something which sounds similar to the Shure V15 MkIV mistake and an excellent sounding (but ancient) Pickering V15.

I require very high output due to the way my line/phono preamps and power amps are configured.

I have an old EAR 834 hi-gain phono preamp which would remedy such, but it needs some work that I've never gotten around to.

I've found pro reviews of the MP-500 interesting (in regard to breaching the MM/MI/MC barriers), but there are many choices out their.

The MP-500 is "said" to have some of the attributes of better MC's, but it also has a user replaceable stylus for approx. half the price of the full monty.

DeKay

Just read a Stereophile review of the 1200G (prompted by dctom's post) and saw mention of an aftermarket mat that I was not aware of.

Changing the mat would be a good place to start with the OP's current setup.

I have (Thorens TD125 MkII/SME 3009 II non-improved) an OEM rubber mat, a 100% wool mat and a DIY cork spot-mat all of which change the sound in my system.

I generally prefer the spot-mat, but the wool mat works well with brighter sounding LP's.

The one mentioned in the review is a spot-mat design.

DeKay

The OP is looking for more of a "jump/exciting" sound, though with a sizable budget.

My course of action would be to optimize what he is currently using (he has a nice system which could be improved towards his goal with 10%-15% investment  of the budget towards a suitable cartridge perhaps with a step up TF if he is he truly wishes to experiment with a lower output MC cartridge).

In regard to step-up TF's,  which I mentioned before, there are more than decent used Denon's in the $300 range that would work with a variety of cartridges.

DeKay

I didn't first think of changing mats because I went through all that ages ago.

When I was young I would switch cartridges not knowing that the mat and/or what the TT rested upon made a difference.

DeKay