Can I get more out of my Koetsu ?

Re blank vinyl calibration record:

I think one might use an old CD that way!

Although I do have some old DG albums that take up three sides of two disks. The last side, that says in German, something like "Achtung! No musik recorded here!" does have grooves (with a weird pattern to them - I really should try to play one like that one day) and would thus be useless for this job. If you have to go that way I'd use a CD or a 12" LaserDisk if you remember them.

And to the OP: you should be sure that your cartridge is the rate-limiting factor before spending money there.

@yogiboy ordered 
@dogberry nice idea. I have been on the road for the last 20years so don't have a bunch of old formats laying around to recycle so I will start with a blank record. Found one for $8 which seems pretty reasonable.

@ghdprentice which direction would you think if heading in re- Phono upgrade?. I do like the sound of he EAR.

@kdogsy , you did exactly the right thing. As @lewm suggests you might try adding even more mass to get the resonance frequency down to 8 Hz. Adjust your antiskating so that the tonearm drifts very slowly towards the spindle in the run out area between grooves. Soundsmith make a really nice set of graded cartridge screws which you can use to adjust the effective mass of the arm.

The only significant improvement (easily noticeable) would be to go to a better phono stage. The Koetsu has a very low impedance, 3 ohms and would mate beautifully with a current mode phono stage like the Sutherland Little Loco. You will certainly notice an improvement in bass definition. 

OP,

looking over your system… sort of anchoring on your speakers. I would say complementary components (if carefully chosen) would be about $5K each. For a Phonostage, I would go used. Audio Research PH8 would be my choice, or new Pass XP17, or Presto.

My strategy, if I were you, would be to swap my components to be up to the level of my level of speakers. Hence, I would upgrade with the objective of taking me out of the market with each purchase. So, the phonostage should take you out of the market. I would you upgrade your TT next, this would net you a substantial gain. Your integrated amp is probably at the level of your speakers. So, that would be at an optimal level.

Typically, I’ll live there for seven to ten years until my financial situation improves and I can think about the next level.

FYI, I own an Audio Research Reference 3. I brought home a ARC Reference 3SE this weekend to audition. Very notable improvement. So, I will send mine back to the factory to upgrade it to SE. clearly worth the money.