Does a record player make that much of a difference??

@joshindc 

Quite the contrary. A tonearm am cartridge can not perform at their best on a less than optimal turntable. Making any mechanical device "disappear" in the context of a very sensitive vibration measurement device is not a chore for the 1/2 hearted. 

Over the years I have managed to expel the the appearance devil out of my person having bought what turned out to be inferior devices that looked cool. I could care less what a piece of audio gear looks like as long as it is well crafted. The Thorens TD 1600 is a great example of that ethic. Thinking this way will save you a pile of money in the long run and most probably the result will be a much better system. 

Almost nothing I own and use (other than cartridges and tonearms) is in its OEM form. Therefore, most components have extra holes drilled in them, parts hanging out in various orientations, etc. If they were beautiful to begin with, they are no longer beautiful. Functional only. I could not care less. (Fear not, Raul, I have not messed around with the 3160.)

Another thing to consider is wear. TT do not wear out. Tonearms do not wear out, but they can be damaged. Cartridges wear out and they can be easily damaged.

So, you can buy a TT for life, a tonearm for decades, or a cartridge for a few years (or hours, if you are unlucky). A cartridge can only perform well if it is held in one exact position - and only a good tonearm can do that. I routinely adjust azimuth to 10 minutes of arc - and on a higher end Koetsu or Grado the differences are clear. Can a cheap tonearm do that? If it can’t, don’t bother with a high end cartridge.

IMO YMMV

Well I'm pretty sure some of these replies will have dissuaded the OP from posting again. Tough crowd.