Do you spend more on your cartridge or tone arm?

dwette, I don't disagree with you, but I would do it, say, more conservative way. And in any case, phono stage must be real good for $4k cartridge, even for $2k cartridge for that matter. In my view, generally speaking, two/three times more expensive than cartridge.

It can easily go either way. For me, I happily spend more on cartridges. I’ve got a few of my favorite old arms (Fidelity Research). I’ve had newer and more expensive arms, and still went back. Rolling cartridges is a lot more fun, especially when the arm uses headshells.

I am using the phono stage in a Bel Canto Black EX Controller/Preamp.  Retails around $13K.

Mine is close to evenly split between tone arm and cartridge. With about $5K arm and $6.5K cartridge. You can do well with quite a bit of variability. I have heard some great systems with 2 x or more on the cartridge... or 2x on tone arm. I think with the dedicated isolation platform and tt... Have another $10K in the table, and $20K in the phonostage.

@inna

phono stage must be real good for $4k cartridge, even for $2k cartridge for that matter. In my view, generally speaking, two/three times more expensive than cartridge

Hah....there you are generalizing again. Again, I say it depends. :)

I have Boulder 1108 phono-stage, retails for $21K. It supports two phono inputs, and I have two Lyra Atlas Lambda (which are now $14k, each). My setup doesn’t satisfy your generalization about it but I can’t think of a better balance for high quality. I would need a $28k-42k phono-stage by your approach.

Some time ago I had a bare Naim Superline (i.e. no PSU) for $4600 and used a Dynavector XV-1s ($5850). That was a most wonderful combination and the Superline really did the DV justice. I would recommend it and know from the Naim community forums that others do the same.