Honest question about cartridge vs. turntable performance.

I think it depends on the total price of the system, but in up to $15-20K systems, I think the allocation of 70% for the entire source is right on the money. I might reallocate within the.70% maybe (I am an arm guy), but the amp  & speakers can only deliver the signal they are given.

Our Opinion on Component SignificanceComponentPerformance Significance:
23%Turntable
17%Tonearm
5%Cartridge
25%Phono Stage
15%Amplifiers
15%Speakers

Spending only 15% of your budget on speakers is almost certainly going to set you up for disappointment!  In reality, one must spend WHATEVER it takes on the speakers (and possibly sub-bass) to get a great sound in the room irrespective of source.  Without that, you are just wasting your money on improvements that you can't hear and/or certainly can't fully realize.    

If I were selling like PS audio:
Instead for:

Our Opinion on Component SignificanceComponentPerformance Significance:
23%Turntable
17%Tonearm
5%Cartridge
25%Phono Stage
15%Amplifiers
15%Speakers

As a another example PS Audio should maybe say something like this:

Our Opinion on Component Significance Component Performance Significance:
5%Turntable
5%Tonearm
5%Cartridge
25%Phono Stage (PS Audio sells stellar phono)
25%Amplifiers (PS Audio core business)
35%Speakers (to boost the chance when ps Audio release their long awaited speaker line)

That seems reasonable if looking from the point of what the specific company are offering and selling..

And not from the best sound for the money from a consumer perspective..

This is absolutely pointless thread and these % calculation is nonsense.

How can it help someone ?

If you want a decent analog system you need a great cartridge, tonearm, turntable, phono stage, amps, speakers ...

You have hundreds of different alternatives for each component and everyone has personal preferences, every room is different.

5% or 10% what are you talking about ???

Hey Chakster - it's just guidelines for percentage spend on a moderate system by component area (up to maybe $15-20K) . They also forgot the cables/conditioner which could eat up 10% ($1500-2000).

The point is that if the source produces garbage, I don't care what kind of amp and speakers you have, it will sound like crap. Once the source gets to a  certain quality level, the amp and speakers can make a bigger difference. 

Of course everything matters, but the OP is looking for the best sound improvement for the buck, which we all are.