2. analog
  3. 169802-87559

Turntable versus tonearm versus cartridge: which is MOST important?

Before someone chimes in with the obvious "everything is important" retort, what I'm really wondering about is the relative significance of each.

So, which would sound better:

A state of the art $10K cartridge on a $500 table/arm or a good $500 cartridge on a $10K table/arm?

Assume good enough amplification to maximize either set up.

My hunch is cartridge is most critical, but not sure to what extent.

Thanks.


bobbydd
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
+1 chakster! I do the same with vintage TTs, arms and cartridges! 
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 
So, which would sound better:

  1. A state of the art $10K cartridge on a $500 table/arm
  2. or a good $500 cartridge on a $10K table/arm?

I would probably go #2, or a $750-$1250 cartridge on a $5k table/arm.- Noting that the cartridge is somewhat of a consumable item.

So in the obligatory car analogy scenario:
  • The cartridge is like the tyres.
  • The arm like like the alignment and suspension all in one.

You want the table to run smoothly, and the arm to track well.After that, then one wants the cartridge to be compliant with the arm.
yeti42's avatar
yeti42
287 posts
 
If funds are limited spending a big chunk on a consumable like a cartridge is downright foolish. 
cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 
The cartridge.

No matter how you improve your tonearm and/or turntable, if you have a crap cartridge, you will NEVER get good sound, whereas the other way round, your chances are much better.

bukanona
174 posts
 
IMO to deduct from price about quality is difficult especially in audio. So comparison only on price is even more difficult.
Although I haven't heard very cheap cartridge which plays very good on any system. If there is problems to discriminate good MC or moving iron from AT-VM95E - there a problem with a system but it doesn't mean that it's a problem with a price of  AT-VM95E

More to discover