@audionoobie - I had budget phono stages for many years and the improvement from one to another was marginal - even when I tweaked power supplies - the improvements were incremental.
I then decided to invest in the analogue side of my system and purchased an LFD phono stage, but it was not a good match to my system or to my cartridge.
Fortunately I was able to switch at no cost to a Simaudio Moon LP5.3 RS and boy - what an improvement.
So much so that when I had my Denon 103 re-tipped by Soundsmith the improvements were immediately apparent.
Since then I have upgraded power cables and interconnects several times and the MOON has kept pace with all those changes by conveying far more details than I thought were possible.
So
Cardas makes a very nice one piece harness.
Once you get the cables sorted, the difference between phono stages should be more noticeable
Just another opinion - Steve
I then decided to invest in the analogue side of my system and purchased an LFD phono stage, but it was not a good match to my system or to my cartridge.
Fortunately I was able to switch at no cost to a Simaudio Moon LP5.3 RS and boy - what an improvement.
So much so that when I had my Denon 103 re-tipped by Soundsmith the improvements were immediately apparent.
Since then I have upgraded power cables and interconnects several times and the MOON has kept pace with all those changes by conveying far more details than I thought were possible.
So
- your choice of phono stage choice is critical
- matching the phono stage to your system is recommended
- matching the phono too your cartridge is is recommended
- and matching your cables to your components is recommended
- i.e. if you want to get the very best out of your analogue components.
Cardas makes a very nice one piece harness.
Once you get the cables sorted, the difference between phono stages should be more noticeable
Just another opinion - Steve