Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ -OR- Moon 110lp v2 -OR- Parasound ZPhono XRM Phono

@dekay 

I am just generally confused, shouldn't a better equipment improve the sound (in general, if setup properly)?

My current phono stage is in my Musical Fidelity A3.2

Something is wrong.

List all of your year with specifics and maybe someone here can help figure out what.

My TT/arm are approx. 50 years old and my phono preamp retailed for <$200 - this setup plays everything without a hitch.

DeKay

I don't know if anything is wrong with it. Maybe it just has its limits?

Figure out what is wrong with your current rig before buying new gear.

What you describe is most likely a setup and/or a mismatch problem.

Could be something as simple as cleaning the stylus - if you are lucky.

DeKay

@tablejockey

the middle is the Moon - I guess?

However, there are two approaches:

1. I go for best fit for the Rega P3 for now

2. I go above the P3 "grade" and then later upgrade to a P8 (I hope) and then my phono stage I bought now will be OK for the P8?

With your existing table and those price points, I'd go for the something in the middle.

Choice of phono cartridge will make more a sonic difference.

"nearly twice as good" 

Not the expectation to have with audiophoolery.

Maybe look at the MS as being more competent with the next table upgrade.

At that point you're looking at something $2-3K+