question about pro-ject maia

[t_schmid]

hi, i keep getting advice from articles online about how to upgrade my turntable setup at home by buying an additional phono preamp and run my table through that into my integrated amp. the argument i've heard is that integrated phono lines in integrated amps are usually shoddy and can't compare to stand-alone units. I just recently bought a pro-ject maia

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_252MAI...09225&awat=pla&awnw=g&awcr=93567735745&awdv=c

and i'm pretty happy with it. But the idea of a bigger and better sound does seem enticing. does anyone have any advice for me? i have my maia set up with a pair of bookshelf passive monitor speakers (nothing fancy) and a polk powered sub. So by no means do i have an "hifi" system.
So, my question is, will adding an additional phono preamp be noticeable in sound difference. If so, what are the pros and cons for solid state or tube preamps? If i buy an expensive tube amp, will playing on consumer level bookshelf speakers be even worth the investment?

this is all a little intimidating, so any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Freddymac2]

With a bookshelf medium quality speaker in a small room the audible gain will be small. Tubes are much more expensive to operate, due to the fact that good tubes are quite expensive. Many units ship with inferior tubes from the factory. Some units don't have enough gain, because they cut down on stages of gain to keep the price down. Your integrated will be OK, and the sub may help a bit. Small bookshelf speakers will sound better if they are out from the wall and elevated on stands. I do not know the model of the sub or your speakers, they are very important to hear the difference of a good phono and cartridge.