How much difference does a phono preamp really make?

Only your hairdresser knows for sure.
It is quite critical but your system, room or ears might not be up to the task. There IS only one way to find out, try it.

As everyone else has said, the Phono Pre is as important as the Turntable itself because of the delicate signal it has to amplify. The hierarchy of the vinyl chain is Turntable, arm and cartridge in that order. With that said, I'm a little surprised that you can hear no differences  between the 2 carts. There should be some subtle changes. 

Did you try both settings (MM/MC) on the PM6 with the Denon?


If so did one sound better then the other?

DeKay

It can make a huge difference.

I was skeptical as were my sons. Read an article in Stereophile by Fremmer and he was exuding using a MM phone pre dedicated to MM. so I bought one he recommended. My stepson could here the difference immediately. He spent his days listening to music as he was disabled after he hit by an intoxicated motorist. He came to live his mother and I.

I miss him…

@artemus_5  I can hear a difference between the two carts. Not so much with the two phono pre's

@earlflynn  I'm very sorry to hear about your stepson. Thank for your input. 

@dekay  I did. The Denon sounded better on the MC setting although I believe the manufacturer recommends using MM. 

Thank you to everyone else so far. It seems like my carts may not be good enough for me to notice a difference between my entry phono stages. 

I posted a question to the Technics SL1200 group on Facebook about recommended cartridges. Most seemed to point to the ATVM760 SLC. Would this be a significant upgrade to my Denon and Clearaudio?

Thanks!!