high versus low output

Theoretically you will get better sound with a low output cartridge, given other gear of the same quality in either setup. This is just because the coils on a LO cart have to be larger to generate more current. Since those coils are attached to the cantilever, they represent more inertia for the stylus assembly to control.

A HO cart has smaller coils, therefore less inertia and a speedier response to changing signals.

This is just theory, of course, and theory is great but execution is at least nine tenths of the battle.

Swampwalker: thank you, thank you. I just hate it when that happens. Some
good person takes the risk of looking dumb and asks a fairly basic question
but he gets more confusion instead of help. 04rdking, thank you too for
emphasizing the point.

Valinar, I humbly apologize for my incompetently proofread response.
Swampy, if you agree, I would like to ask the OP and everyone else to
interchange "HO" and "LO" in my confusing post,
above, so that the relevant lines read

"The coils in a HO cart have to be larger to generate more
current,"

and

"A LO cart has smaller coils".

I am so glad to have a second chance to get that right.

Dougdeacon, thank you very much indeed for keeping me from putting my
foot in the wrong place over input capacitance. Using your limpid post, I am
going to work up slowly to the quiz.