I would look at speakers. First, of course, these will affect all output. Particularly if you go used you can be in the $5K new range… likely to be a very substantial upgrade. And finally, since digital can sound as good as analog in roughly the same price range these days, while giving access to nearly infinite music… this gives you more time to ponder this before the next time the bug bites.
Speakers or Turntable upgrade
I've been bitten by the upgrade bug. It's amazing how a small initial thought can snowball. I found a Clearaudio MM cartridge I forgot I had. It's been sitting in a drawer for 10 years due to upgrading the cartridge out of the box on my Clearaudio Concept TT. My thought was to get a cheap TT to mount the cartridge for my office system.
That turned into finding a good deal on a Rega Planar 2 with an ND cartridge. My other Turntable is a Rega Planar 3 with 2M Bronze. The Planar 2 got sold which led me to a Planar 3 with an Exact 2, but I didn't want the same TT. That led to looking at the Planar 6 and 8. I came to the conclusion that the 6 wouldn't be a big enough jump so I'm looking at a Planar 8 with ND7. Planar 8 would be my main rig and the Planar 3 would go to the office system.
I'm now looking at $3500 and started thinking if my money would be served better by upgrading my speakers instead. Sorry for the meandering post.
My system:
Rega Planar 3, Rotel RC 150, Rotel RB-1080, HTPC with DAC.
Speakers: Paradigm Studio 100 v2. and SVS SB3000 subwoofer
I listen to classic rock, new rock, 80's rock, and metal. I listen at fairly robust volumes.
Am I better off sticking that money into speakers than upgrading my TT?