Agree with all the above.
I've owned $150 cartridges and $5,000 cartridges. I also own an $1,800 preamp and a $12,000 one. Like Syntax, if I had to pair the lesser of one with the greater of the other - and could only keep one combo - I'd keep the good preamp + a cheap cartridge, not the cheap preamp + a good cartridge.
The same is true of turntables and tonearms vs. cartridges. If I had to choose between my $1K rig + a $5K cartridge or my $11K rig + a $150 cartridge, I'd choose the latter every time. $150 cartridges play better than you'd think possible on a good rig. $5K cartridges on a cheap rig just reveal its flaws and shortcomings.
In general, the expenditure or upgrade order should be:
1. phono stage
2. turntable
3. tonearm
4. cartridge
In your case, your next upgrade after the phono stage should be speed control for the Scout, which will also make a nice improvement.
I've owned $150 cartridges and $5,000 cartridges. I also own an $1,800 preamp and a $12,000 one. Like Syntax, if I had to pair the lesser of one with the greater of the other - and could only keep one combo - I'd keep the good preamp + a cheap cartridge, not the cheap preamp + a good cartridge.
The same is true of turntables and tonearms vs. cartridges. If I had to choose between my $1K rig + a $5K cartridge or my $11K rig + a $150 cartridge, I'd choose the latter every time. $150 cartridges play better than you'd think possible on a good rig. $5K cartridges on a cheap rig just reveal its flaws and shortcomings.
In general, the expenditure or upgrade order should be:
1. phono stage
2. turntable
3. tonearm
4. cartridge
In your case, your next upgrade after the phono stage should be speed control for the Scout, which will also make a nice improvement.