Advice on upgrade path for analog setup

[teekoh]

Hi, first time posting in these forums. I'm hoping to get some advice on what is the best path to achieving better detail and imaging from my current budget setup. I mostly listen to vinyl and have it set as a near field set up by my desk. I find the sound to be fatiguing after a while would love some advice on that as well.

My current set up is:

Micro Seiki DD-1 turntable w/ Nagaoka MP 110 cartridge

Graham Slee Communicator Gram Amp 2 Phono

Dared MP5 (Chinese tube amp/DAC)

NHT 2.3 floor speakers

I'm also just using some old interconnects I found lying around the house and some free speaker cables i got at the record store.

Which compnonet would you recmmend I should upgrade first? There is a local Craigslist ad selling a Rega RP1 with a glass platter from the RP3 and an Ortofon 2M red for $400. Would this be a noticible upgrade to my current setup?

Another Craigslist ad I saw has the Quad 12L2 for $650

I also saw a pair of Totem Arro speakers at a used shop but was quite pricey at around $900 not sure if that is worth it.

Another option would be saving a couple months for a pair of KEF LS50

Would love to hear your thoughts and which component to upgrade first and your reccomendations. Thanks!

 

[lindsayt]

Micro Seiki Direct Drive. Nice. Very nice.

If I had your set-up I'd be trying a decent MC cartridge as my first upgrade.

 

[teekoh]

Hi lindsay would the tonearm accept a MC cartridge? The problem with that I suppose is I would need to buy a pre-amp as well.