Which to upgrade first: Turntable or Phono Preamp

Having to mount the cartridge on another turntable would stop some of you from upgrading the turntable? 

another awesome vintage preamp, unique features, 14 day returns, that's not a lot of risk to try it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Luxman-CL35-MKIII-Tube-Preamp/303871182981

I would recommend the PolyTable Signature built by George Merrill in Tennessee.  PolyTable Signature (hifigem.com)
George has many informative turntable design papers and other informative works on his website Analog Emporium:  Analog Emporium (hifigem.com)
Analog is all that George does.  Highly recommended

+1 for a PolyTable Signature and just important Merrill's motor drive system is one of a handful of affordable TT  I would consider switching to from my vintage TT but with tonearm added to the mix it is just shy of 5k.

OP if your Classic turntable is the newer design with aluminum sub platter and good speed control variances keep it if not move up to a TT that is quieter with better speed control.

From left field, any TT that is AC motor controlled can use a Long Dog Audio Quartz TT power supply I am truly amazed that it would make that big of a difference.

Technics 1200GR. You won’t believe how much better your system will sound.
Next would be phono preamp. The sweet spot of the preamp world is the Lehmann Black Cube SE II, clean, dynamic and a huge upgrade from your Vincent.
Outboard linear power supply on the Lehmann is something you do not get elsewhere at the price.

These are not "boutique" picks by any means but are reliable, practical solid sonic performers- if sound is what you are after.  

Thanks @avanti1960 .  There are quite a few recommendation of the Technics turntable.   I love the detachable head shell and speed control.   The first turntable I ever got in the late 70's was a Pioneer with similar design: direct drive, detachable head shell, and speed control.

I read that direct drive turntable tends to be noisy because of the motor directly driving the platter.   There are also reviews that shun detachable head shells.   How has your experience been in regards to motor noise on the Technics?   

Thanks.

Direct Drive TT can suffer from "cogging" where electric servo motor is applying force on-off-on etc. to spin platter but this was mainly a issue for cheaper model DD's and had been virtually eliminated in reference vintage DD's this is not a issue in current designs. Servo motors "hunting and pecking" for correct speed can and will introduce noise but this is up for debate as to what effect it has on overall sound. Any TT whether it is belt or thread driven, idler wheel, rim drive or DD has some kind of issue it is trying overcome to spin it's platter at a consistent 33.3 RPM, pick you poison.

I read that direct drive turntable tends to be noisy because of the motor directly driving the platter.

You’d better try to detect anything like that, why don’t you just find someone or some place to spin some records on top class DD turntable? I have 6 of them in my listening room and I have no idea what those people are talking about, because they are (direct drive TTs) absolutely quiet in my system. 

There are also reviews that shun detachable head shells.

Use both types of tonearms, if you think you can use one cartridge forever then you don’t need a headshell, but if you have many cartridges you need removable headshell. Believe me, a cartridge alone (or your phono stage) is what you have to think about, not additional connection via headshell or direct connection to a cartridge. The difference is so small, I bet you can’t detect it in a blind test.

I'm curious as to what direction you went.  Also, I'm wondering why there is no mention of speakers in this thread.

Opinions are like?......

If you can go audition turntables and phono stages rather then listening to the opinions of armchair critics.

You came to the right place for opinions and the wrong place for validation.

Hi @truex14.   Thanks for reminding me to come back to this post.   I've been meaning to do it, but was being lazy.  

Anyway,  I've decided to go with upgrading the phono stage first.  I have auditioned 3 phono stages, and let me share my experience here.   The 3 phono stages are PS Audio Stellar,  Parasound JC3+, and Herron VTPH-2A:

PS Audio Stellar:   This is the least expensive of the 3 phono stages, plus with the trade in of my Vincent PHO 701, it's an incredible deal.   The Stellar probably sounds the most "exciting or lively" out of the 3.  Very forward sounding.   Very quiet background.  Decent sound stage and bass.  Probably a little more analytical sounding than the other 2.  

Parasound JC3+:  My first impression of the sound was 'silky smooth'. Also very quiet.   Good bass response, with a good punchiness.  Not super punchy, but I did like the bass.   Great open sound stage.  Not as exciting sounding as the Stellar, but more musical and easy to listen to.

Herron VTPH-2A:  The Herron is just a tiny bit less quiet than the other 2, but still very quiet.  I wonder if it is due to the nature of tube amp never going to be as quiet as solid state.   Just my unscientific guess.   I would describe the sound as very neutral and natural with a bit of warmth.   I feel like I'm listening to the music and not the phono preamp.   Maybe not as silky smooth, or as punchy as the JC3+,  but does sound more musical.  a tad warmer, with better sound stage and details.   I'm talking about very small difference here comparing to the JC3+.

At the end,  I have decided to keep the Herron.   It was a very close call between the Herron and the JC3+.   I can easily be just as happy with the JC3+, had I not heard the Herron.   The Stellar is not a bad sounding preamp,  I can probably live with this also, had I not heard the other 2.  In my opinion, all 3 phono stages are very good.  In the end, it comes down to personal taste.   Now that I've owned the Herron for about 2 months, it continues to sound so natural that I really feel that it has disappeared from my analog pipeline. 

I'm very happy with my decision to go with the Herron.   I have never heard of the Herron until it was mentioned here.   There are not a lot of professional reviews out there, but there is certainly a huge fan base in this forum, to a point that makes this a legendary product.   I'm glad I was able to purchase one of the very last VTPH-2A.   Keith Herron had mentioned to me that he will no longer build any more of this phono stage.   I feel like I'm owning a collectible item. 

On the turntable side,  I have recently decided to purchase the Mofi Ultradeck with the Master Tracker MM cartridge.   So far I'm very happy with it.    It sounds very open and detail.   More quiet than the Project Classic.    Definitely an improvement.   One thing I really don't like about the Project is the tonearm.  it is very finicky.   Every time I lower or raise the tonearm,  it never goes straight up or down.  It always drift to outer edge of the LP.   I wonder if it is related to the Anti-skating mechanism.  I tried different settings and it still behaves the same.  Anyway,  I haven't even tried the Mofi with my Hana ML cartridge yet.   I think the Master Tracker is doing a pretty good job.

Anyone here owns a Mofi Ultradeck?  I would like to hear your experience also.

Hope this helps.   Thanks everyone for their suggestions and opinions.  I have purchased a few components here based on the information I found in this forum.   Thanks again.

Very cool xcool!  Thanks for the update.

Going for a Phonostage will potentially have the influence on the System in use, to allow the System to reveal its full potential.
I am in agreement that the suspected improvements to be heard through a addition of a Phon' will be a very positive and impressive experience. 

A Curve Ball suggestion as a Phonostage to consider looking at and could prove to be well within your Budget is a Mr Nixie DIGNA.
The DIGNA is a Multi Adjustable MM/MC Design,  produced in Germany by a very experienced EE with a history in Designing/Producing State of the Art Recording Equipment for an Established Company.

I have the Original DIGNA  with me for nearly four years, as a standard version with the ECC 8100 Tubes, it has proven itself as a very worthy Phon' when demonstrated in Bake Off's against other designs that have a much increased asking price. 
It received a very good appraisal from an audience at a Bake of where some of the attendees are prominent in the UK HiFi Industry.

My DIGNA has also undergone a Producer Approved Modifcation to enable the use of other Tubes.
I am using Two E88CC Tubes and in my view and others who have become familiar with the Phon', the use of E88CC's has moved the presentation to a complete new Level.
Under this guise it was on a extended loaned to a Local HiFi Group and this become there go to Phon' for their Pre COVID Bi Monthly Meetings. 

The Latest versions of the DIGNA come remain with all the very usable adjustments options, as well as a built in Switch for Selecting Valve Types.
There are a few added ancilliaries as well, such as a Power Supply Upgrade or a DC Filter.

It took a Bespoke Designed and Built Phonostage produced for myself,
to have the DIGNA that I own put in the place of a Second Phonostage.
The DIGNA still impresses, and just recently I purchased a very rare set of Vintage E88CC's for it.