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

The Styli in the Groove passing modulations solely generates the the energy to be transferred via the armature to induce a current.

The current produced being a result of the link between Styli and Coils (MC) is ideally a result of the impact of the modulation on the Styli only. Ambient energies withing the listening environment being able to transfer and influence the Styli to generate alien energy through the armature will be producing a current and sent on signal that is not pure modulation retrieval.

Additionally, the mechanics of the Turntable and Tonearm are both able to influence the Styli, and produce energies that will be transferred through the armature to produce a current. Such a current will be very different than that produced by the Groove Modulation only.

The learning and methods used to control mechanical produced energies comes with a need to have a skill set that is usually way beyond the typical user of a Vinyl LP as a Source. Usually such control measures are found through making substantial investments in equipment, in the hope these mechanical interfaces are much improved by the quality of the engineering adopted as a design and application.

Hence, it is much easier for the typical user of the Vinyl LP as a Source, to create a structure to support the Trilogy of ancillaries to enable a Vinyl LP to be replayed, which will be as a whole, aiding in creating a reduction of ambient energies within the room being transferred to the Styli, where ultimately the most detrimental of the energy that can be encountered is dissipated by the structure. 

With either of the above addressed, but preferably both, will be the condition that allows for the Phonostage to receive Electrical Signal that is mostly created through the Vinyl LP's Modulation/Styli interface only.             

Soooooo many would like to perform as well as this Vintage Combo which I had/loved for years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134814145255?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=a3423a32-8628-11ee-8c50-393864376633

live within range of seller? friend within range to check it out?

Vertical vibration MUST be eliminated due to the magnificent bearing's sensitivity to vertical vibration.

it's hard to imagine a thread more confusing, unintelligible, contentious, and yet substantive and full of hard earned insight in the same time. If this was someone driving from point A to B, he'd be going in the more asinine route and at times at 120mph an hour, taking crazy but beautiful turns while crashing and hitting pedestrians 10 times in 20 minutes

@joshindc

From your original question it sounds like you don’t think your current table isn’t any ball of fire. My buddy is using a Technics SL-1210GR with the same Dynavector. It sounds great!  The Technics has a decent arm and all the adjustments that you would ever need.

@joshindc 

With a turntable I am more of a function over form kind of guy.  By that I mean once you break a turntable down into its basic functions and your table has those bases covered, the rest is diminishing returns on the dollar. And yes, performing these basic functions do matter to the sound quality-

1) Speed stability (freedom from note wavering) and speed accuracy.  I have owned and heard expensive turntables that had speed stability issues where you could clearly hear a wavering in the pitch of sustained notes and sound slow, stogy and lack energy compared to others.  A turntable with great speed stability and accuracy sounds more energetic and life like.  

2) Immunity from vibration.  There are expensive turntables available that are not very good at dealing with air born or foot traffic vibrations.  These cause you to purchase work arounds like wall mount shelves or vibration reducing platforms in order to sound their best.  Many turntables do not need these work arounds and come with very good vibration damping feet, stable, structurally sound plinths and platters.  

3) Tonearm adjustability for cartridge optimization.  A great turntable should have a tonearm that can easily be adjusted for use with the better available phono cartridges.  Many cartridges have stylus shapes that need precise VTA (vertical tracking angle) to sound their best and the tonearm should be easily adjustable for VTA as well as anti-skating and VTF (vertical tracking force).  If you cannot get the VTA so that the top of the cartridge is level with the record surface the sound could be compromised and cause uneven / early stylus wear.  

4)Tonearm mass / match with cartridge compliance and resonance.  The turntable should have a tonearm with the appropriate mass to match with the cartridge you like and are using.  In general a lower - mid mass tonearm works with higher compliance cartridges as a starting point.  You would usually pick a cartridge to match your tonearm but many people have their favorite sounding cartridges and need a turntable with a tonearm to match.  A poor tonearm to cartridge match will cause it to be resonant at higher or lower frequencies that will have an impact on the sound.  Improper matches can cause rumble effects, coloration or blurring of the sound and be more susceptible to warped records.  

5) Turntable mat.  A poor turntable mat will be a source of electrical static and may not provide the best damping of tonearm cartridge energy.  A good turntable mat (even stock) will provide just the right amount of energy damping to avoid sound coloration but not too much as to reduce sound dynamics and energy. 

So yes, turntables do affect sound quality.