Honest question about cartridge vs. turntable performance.

There really is no difference in terms of pure performance. For every $2500 or whatever on a cart you can find $2500 in a turntable that will be a virtual tie in delivering sound quality. Where the difference comes in is over the long term. Your $2500 (or whatever, numbers aren't the point) cartridge will in 5 years (or whatever, numbers aren't the point) be worth zero. Your $2500 turntable on the other hand will be worth, well who knows? But not zero! Could even be worth more. You never know. Point is, one is a consumable, and one is not.  

So in my book if you are gonna go big it pays to go big on the table. Because then in five or ten when you replace the starter cartridge the better one you buy will be going on a better table. Where if you spent the money on the cart the next cart will be going on the lesser table. 

So these questions are like games where only Kirk (as played by millercarbon) knows enough to reprogram the game to win the no-win scenario.

I run a 43 year old DD table. Paid $45 for it 10 years ago. Cleaned and completely restored it. It’s competent in every way for speed, rumble, arm, suspension, etc.

Ive used a Decca Gold, Dynavector, various Ortofons, ATs, Shure, ADCs, Empires, Excels, Stanton’s,  Pickerings, Koetsu, and others. All the carts have a unique sound, and performed flawlessly.  The table and arm are not the limiting factors to great sound, as long as the table/arm are competent.

Competence in bearings and isolation is easy compared to changing one kind of energy into another....don’t shortchange the cartridge, and buy a rebuildable cartridge and it will be worth more than zero... Captain Kirk flunked math....

Rega is a good choice but there are others see Brinkmann, Kuzma, AMG, etc for integrated packages, including tailored HRS isolation bases.

Funny when ole James Kirk can’t remember his own advice - look into Soundsmith.....