There is no doubt in my mind that a modest cartridge properly set up in a top quality deck will sound significantly better than the reverse. I just had my TD124 totally tricked out by an expert-STS in Nashville. This project included a motor rebuild with high-torque brushes, an $1100 custom bearing, an $1100 thick aluminum top platter, Audiosilente idler wheel, custom motor mounts, complete stripping of chassis and iron sub platter and refinishing, new wiring, and the list goes on. A new 12" Reed 3P in cocobolo was mounted. Greg of STS put a lowly Shure vintage cartridge on the Reed (from the photos he sent me I’m guessing an M91) and reported some of the blackest backgrounds and best sound he has ever heard. Greg owns far more expensive cartridges and has heard plenty of far more expensive decks. I realize that one anecdotal report does not mean much but I think this is representative of tons of past experiences by most dyed in the wool vinyl ’philes.
I think of the concept as being the logical reverse of the more frequently discussed topic; which is more important between source/electronics and speakers. I am strongly of the opinion that it is far better to have top quality source and electronics with modest loudspeakers than the reverse. The best speakers in the world can’t polish a turd coming into them. But with top signal going into them, modest speakers properly set up in the listening room can sound unbelievably good.
The interesting thing in this analogy is that most wrong-headed enthusiasts make the mistake of focusing on fancy looking and expensive loudspeakers since they are so prominent in the room but don’t get drawn to expensive cartridges because-let’s face it-nobody but the owner and a few cognescenti notice them.
I think of the concept as being the logical reverse of the more frequently discussed topic; which is more important between source/electronics and speakers. I am strongly of the opinion that it is far better to have top quality source and electronics with modest loudspeakers than the reverse. The best speakers in the world can’t polish a turd coming into them. But with top signal going into them, modest speakers properly set up in the listening room can sound unbelievably good.
The interesting thing in this analogy is that most wrong-headed enthusiasts make the mistake of focusing on fancy looking and expensive loudspeakers since they are so prominent in the room but don’t get drawn to expensive cartridges because-let’s face it-nobody but the owner and a few cognescenti notice them.