Rec's for a dull sounding analog system

Um, this may be a silly question, but if you don't have a phono stage how do you know your analog sounds dull?

Anyway, I upgraded a seventies LP12 and it was worth it to me. You might find a used Valhalla, but better I think to go for the Cirkus/Lingo. If you have to spend some budget on a phono stage, get the Cirkus and that. You will have music while you save for the Lingo.

I assume your Monolithic Sounds refers to a PS2 phono stage? Without which you would lose the RIAA equalization that a phono stage performs and make your system sound dull, flat and compressed.

Pawlowski6132 - Monolithic is the PS2 version.

Tobias - Sorry, the Monothic is the phono pre, I just did not note it as such. Yeah, I was thinking lingo/cirkus, but had reservations about upgrading a 70's lp12. Some folks talk about latter models being braced better and whatnot. I don't know how much of a difference that even makes.

Holmejr, thanks for the clarification. (I could have Googled it myself instead of asking a silly question.)

Yes, the corner bracing on the plinth of the later LP12s is better, but that doesn't mean you should not get a Cirkus and a Lingo for your present table IMHO. The contribution of the plinth changes to the sound of the TT is minimal as long as you have your LP12 on a decent support. And hey, I'm a fixer-upper.

If your sound is dull now, you might check your VTA if you haven't done that recently. "Dull" could mean it's too low.