I would go for the cartridge. But please take advice from others who know more! I am kind of in the same boat, so I look forward to the answers.

Trey

I'd try a Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 SE before the 2M Bronze. While the 2M Blue may have more in common with the 2M Red, the 2M Bronze is still a marginal improvement from the 2M Blue, while the Graham Slee phono preamp would be a dramatic improvement over the Zphono.

Check the capacitive loading of your cartridge. This is very important for MM type cartridges. if the loading isn't high enough that will cause that cartridge to sound thin. Also check the VTA setting on the arm; make sure the arm tube is at least parallel to the LP surface. If it's tipped up in the back that will also emphasize the treble region. Also make sure the tracking force is at or near the maximum rate for the cartridge. Eventually you'll want to get into a moving coil type cartridge, which is inherently lower in all forms of distortion from MM types.

borzenkov wrote:

Well first of all I would play with the cables - try few other brands, it could help and not harm your budget at all.

That's what I'd do, too. I've never used a Monster cable that I thought sounded good. Try Kimber Hero (maybe expensive, so go for used).