Suggestions for TT upgrade

If your headshell allows, changing out the headshell leads (4) can make an audible improvement in a turntable system’s performance. A number of well respected manufacturers sell these sets. Cardas comes to mind. I believe most headshell sets are sub $50. 

@jasonbourne,

Thanks for the suggestions and... 

I’m sure a dumb question but what is an SUT? 
I think I’ll try and hook it all up today assuming I can find everything. 

just use it and enjoy them slowly upgrade... it's a journey you should enjoy as there is many knowledge  involved in playing turntable. it's cheap to make mistake now to prevent more expensive mistakes.

A Hana EL mc cartridge + a SUT would be a big improvement! Much more details and dynamics from your LPs! 

Based on everything you said I would do nothing right now but hook it up and start spinning vinyl. You are right, it is a visceral thing, there is nothing else like it, and no amount of money in digital can match what you already have. Sorry, just can’t. Digital can be more flat, neutral, dynamic, extended, blah, blah, blah, yada yada and yet for all that cannot touch the experience that is vinyl.

If after enjoying your records a while you want even more, well then first figure out what exactly you mean by more. First thing comes to mind for me, your phono stage is weak, very weak relative to the table and cartridge. But without some sort of plan it is premature to be suggesting upgrades.

Well to be honest not really sure what I’m unhappy with. It has not been hooked up for over a year. If memory serves it sounded smooth but not real dynamic. Basically just wondering if upgrades to the Carbon were worth it. Sounds like yes... to a point which is kind of what I was thinking. 
I’ll have to hook everything back up this week and take a good listen, maybe I can pinpoint what I think could be improved a little better. 
I enjoy the physicality of things like records vs streaming. I keep reading from all the audiogoners that even their tens of thousands of bucks worth of digital is not as good as the best vinyl. I’ve yet to hear that but would like to. Seems like that is the ultimate goal with digital is a hope to come close to vinyl, tape, whatever analog medium. 

 There is probably 20 albums I play on Quobuz the most so the wide world of digital is not that wide for me. Not to say I don’t check new stuff out from time to time. 

I had a Carbon, after getting back into vinyl. I finally upgraded pretty substantially from that, but although not ultra high end, enough that it made a substantial difference in enjoyment.

I purchased an acrylic platter for the Carbon. Purchased a Grado Red cartridge, and a Schiit Mani phono pre. All improvements, but I think the Carbon has a ceiling in spending on ‘pieces and parts’, as the table itself and tonearm will always be limiting factor to increase enjoyment.

If I were you, I would spend more for a cartridge, something like the Soundsmith Otello, or similar; Sumiko Moonstone, Nakaoka 150, etc. But in my opinion, not sure I would spend much more than that. Then leave the phono pre alone right now. A better new cart will probably make more an initial impact. Then see if you want to invest in a better pre.

I guess the question is, what are you trying to improve? What are you unhappy with? Bottom line, honestly, you will need to invest much more overall to get substantially better playback from vinyl. I just believe the Carbon, as a table and arm, will have limitations on improvements.