Next upgrade for my analog source

I used to own a Lyra Argo i which is (or rather was) a step up from the Delos. My preamp was a Rega IOS (predecessor to AURA) which is a pricey but very clean and quiet phono stage. I found the IOS was the only preamp of several I tried that had synergy with the Lyra. It was a nice combination that was light and airy but somehow seemed to lack bass weight. I now own a Nagaoka MP200 (yes, same as yours). I play through a relatively inexpensive phono stage that way outperforms it’s cost. Honestly, the NAGA is a very sweet cart and sounds a bit better "in my system" than the Lyra with the exception of some minor mistracking of the most severe tracks on a few LPs. You may also want to audition the NAGAOKA MP 500 if you are unsatisfied with the 200 and try a few different phono stages to get the right balance for your system.

If you really want to upgrade buy entirely new/different cartridge, for the price of MP500 there are many alternatives. If you like nagaoka you can just upgrade stylus, not cartridge. 

But if you want something different it's about new cartridge from different designer and with different presentation. 

Thanks for all the inputs! Greatly appreciated.

my rega p6 tt does not have a separate ground line and the fono cable is not replaceable. Would this negate any benefits if i upgrade to higher priced cartridges?

Jperry, that is true and it is an extremely easy thing to disconnect chassis ground from the signal wires. With a warm soldering Iron it might take me 10 minutes. It is unfortunate that something like this should scare an audiophile. To disregard what might be the absolute best value in a phono amp for that reason is rather silly. IMHO the minimum audiophile kit is a set of small screwdrivers,  set of metric Allen wrenches. small diagonal cutters, small needle nose pliers a soldering iron and some solder. Shrink wrap of various sizes is a nice add on.  Not having this is like a cyclist who can't work on his bike so for every little adjustment he has to go back to the bike store? Helpless. 

Maybe he doesn’t want to screw around with it, I wouldn’t.

By the way, did you hear the phono preamp you were touting, or just read the review?

Have a great day.