Develop a hierarchy for phono playback


I am hoping we can form a consensus on the relative importance of each element.  I will start by listing them in physical order starting at the record.

1. Cartridge

2.  Wires

3.  Arm

4.  Turntable

5.  Connecting cables

6.  Phono Stage

7.  Optional SUT and additional connecting cables

I thought about this two ways:  How might these elements be prioritized for someone just starting out?   Or, how might the elements be prioritized differently where cost is less important than best SQ?

billstevenson

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

If starting out. Looking at investment level (assuming research and careful choice... the best and most compatible in each category). If you try to answer simply by performance... I just don’t know how to do that. Then you have to start comparing strange things that few would ever have experience with. 

 

~ Turntable (all) = Phono Stage in importance and is 95%... the cables will net you a small (say %5) improvement vs the major components. 

Then breaking down to the first level:

Turntable = Tone arm = Cartridge. About equal responsible for 95% of the sound quality.

So, I guess that means roughly 45% phonostage, 15% cartridge, 15% tone arm, 15% turntable and 5% wires.

This is about what my systems have typically ended up. For a long time I underestimated the phonostage and it was alway holding back my turntable.