Is table really more importsnt than cartridge?

The conventional wisdom that you state is generally true, but bear in mind that the turntable / tonearm / cartridge combo is a SYSTEM, and that it it interactive. Hence, using a fine cartridge with an inexpensive turntable / tonearm makes little sense, nor does it make sense to use an inexpensive cartridge with a high quality turntable / tonearm.

Generally speaking, however, you are best advised to get the best turntable / tonearm you can, since a stable foundation is vital to achieving the best performance from the cartridge. It is always easier (and cheaper) to upgrade the quality of the cartridge than replacing the table and tonearm.

At first, i thought the transducer (cartridge) should be the most important. I mean all a table has to do is spin a record, right? how hard can that be? surely building a tranducer is tougher, right.

Wrong. I heard it myself in my own system with a Michell GyroSE table. Prior to that cart upgrades were ho-hum. the table upgrade was jaw-dropping (same arm and cart)

To use your above price, i would rather have a denon cart on a teres table than a lyra on a thorens or rega p2

Also think of it this way, the cart is NOT the first part of the chain. the lp spinning on the table is. if that isn't done right. fuhgitaboutit!

I agree with Sdcampbell and Aroc... The foundation of a good analog system is the turntable/tonearm, imo, and I'd always start building a system with the best turntable and tonearm I can manage and then work towards a better cartridge. The challenge is that, as Sdcampbell points out, the tt/tonearm/cartridge make a SYSTEM: there are real synergies to be had. And, there is an iterative process of improvement going on.

This being said, some of the discussion at Audio Asylum greatly oversimplifies the advice being offered. There ARE significant differences between cartridges: they are readily audible and very material. It is simply that, without a strong foundation in the tt and tonearm, you're wasting your time pouring lots of cash into the cartridge.
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