Should I get a new cart, TT or phono stage?

06-07-09: Djn04
One thought I had was to replace the stylus on the 2m red. I read somewhere that all 2m have the same body. Is that true? If so could I put a 2m black stylus into my 2m red body?

Although the four cartridges appear physically identical, they 2M system is really two separate cartridge bodies and four stylus assemblies. The Red and Blue cartridge bodies are identical. The Bronze and Black cartridge bodies are also identical--to each other, but not to the Red/Blue bodies. The Bronze/Black bodies are built with better materials and closer tolerances (and slightly different design IIRC) to take full advantage of the higher-res--but slightly different compliance--Bronze and Black styllii.

You *may* be able to slide a Black stylus onto your "Red" cartridge body, but it won't make it a real 2M Black. However, if you replace your Red stylus with a Blue one, it will be identical with the factory 2M Blue.

Djn04,
Some great advice here from everyone.
Phono stage would make the most noticeable improvement,
however, sounds as if your set-up is well matched at the present.
I would wait awhile before changing things up and enjoy.
Maybe spend that upgrade money on some new vinyl.

Have u tried a denon cart? They are well reviewed here

So I've taken the advice of many here and bought a Era Gold here on A'gon. I'll report back when I get it and I can A/B with the pro-ject.

Congats on a fine choice. In addition to the above and perhaps to highlight some of the above implications, I would emphasize that saving up for a better table/arm would definitely yield worthwhile benefits, although you may need to up the ante. I would also add that a table/arm upgrade will give more than that of a cartridge. Of course, it would be that much more worthy of a cartridge upgrade. IMHO, the Rega are the best of the forementioned contenders but perhaps not enough of a step up. If you're curious, it's likely to be not too difficult to get hold of a P5, which would be slightly more likely to be an improvement, especially if you can audition it with the outboard power supply. Then you can hear for yourself just what kind of sideways move you're talking about. Sometimes a different flavor of icecream can be very educational. Of course, a P7 or P9 would give a more refined taste of the Rega option, especially as a reference for other higher end aspirations. As a Rega dealer, my point here is not to promote them so much as to answer your question, or even more to the point, to encourage you to put yourself in the position of answering your own question. You may even be able to bring your table in to a dealer and compare it there.