Develop a hierarchy for phono playback

Very interesting, but I think it's more about figuring out the weakest link in your system as well as system synergy, rather than a strict hierarchy.

My system consists of a significantly upgraded Garrard 301 with an Ikeda tonearm.

The tonearm cable is Nordost Odin 2, which was a significant upgrade or the Nordost V2. I didn't think it would make much difference and I was wrong.

The cartridge varies, but is usually the Ikeda 9GSS or MSL Platinum.

I just upgraded my preamp to the Luxman CL-1000, which was a significant upgrade. At one point I had a couple of expensive stand alone phono preamps, but I prefer having them integrated into the preamp to cut down the box count.

According to most formulas, I have too much tonearm cable, and maybe not enough phono preamp depending on how much of the CL-1000 is attributed to phono preamp. As for the Garrard, people love or hate it. I love it.

Overall IMO a well balanced and excellent sounding analog front end as far as I can tell

+1 bdp24

Transducers always have the largest impact on sound transmission.

@billstevenson 

I think you left the most important factor off your list and that is cartridge alignment.  It may ruffle some feathers but a properly aligned $500 cartridge will sound better than a casually aligned $5000 cartridge.  

dave

@intactaudio  Won't speak for the OP but the assumption is that the cartridge would have proper set up including compliance/leveled turntable and vibration control. 

I can change the voicing of my entire system simply by changing the rectifier in the power supply to my phono stage. The biggest improvement to my current main system, the core of which started in 2006, was probably the change in cartridge, but everything else was up to snuff. I don’t know how to assign priorities or percentages simply because there are synergies and I guess I subscribe to a weakest link approach.

I also have no holistic view about system building beyond knowing what I hear, first hand. There are some known synergies, but a lot of factors go into sorting the system set up in the room to maximize its potential. In this sense, even using the same gear, I think every system almost becomes sui generis. 

Not dismissing the question posed, since I responded but I suspect you’ll find that some folks will be able to get great music out of a well set up vinyl front end with a modestly priced cartridge. 

So, my response should not be taken as a "rule" to apply to others, but rather, where I got the biggest uptick, once everything else was primed for it. Too many variables for me to wrap my brain around, perhaps.