matching cartridge and speakers

Dear Inna, this is the most brave thread ever !
So, lets make a start :
If I'm starting from scratch a stereo system, these two would be the most critical to identify it's character and the rest of ingredients (while not of secondary importance) were having the mission to serve these two (not mask their character). Of course we all agree on this.
But what if we proceed by choosing them first?
In this case lets see the process :
1). I would put on my list very carefully those speakers that connects me fluently with music. ie : (Shindo Latour, Red Rose R3) and simultaneously picking the cartridges that also fulfill this exact promise and keeps the spirit intact. ie : (Decca Reference, Colibri)
2). I would choose among my priorities the apparent matching : (The direct liveness of Decca and Shindo, Vs the etheral 3D soundstage of Colibri and R3)

Unfortunatelly or for my good luck, I'm not programmed to make this kind of rationally objective observations a buying decision, once that in reality these theoritical -on paper- mix of equal personas, could give a mega smack in my wallet and bring forth many questions regarding my brain salad. Because the straight wire with gain is a huge lie and everything matters everywhere inside & out of our components especially when they called to mixed together.
Trial & error the only way.
There is not a recipe formula for me. After auditioning all those components in my list, I could not predict the matching pairs among them. Sometimes created an overdose of a particular strength or even a new monstrous character that makes me suspicious for the genuine value of this characteristic strength.

Now in present reality that we allready have choose the synergy between a number of components that as a system satisfy our request, we can proceed to try a new cartridge to pursue our need for pushing the limits higher. Equally we may hear a speaker that could be a new breakthrough discovery to our request and realise that there is no way to reach it's quality of offerings without bring it to our system's chain. If we are not satisfied with our present speaker, there is no catridge that can rescue it from it's misery -"other than to mask sonic faults and so to fit into a personal sonic matrix"- I concur with Daniel.
When I first hear the Shindo 604, I've realised the huge improvement over my PHY Ocellia 03 Silver, but I was also worried about a somewhat heavy, overweight, dull & dark feeling on it's projection at every LP.I recognise that my analogue source certainly could give it a very different personality than Shindo's 301 TT/arm/cart that I was tested it with in the distributor's room. When I've carried my own TT/arm/cart to the auditioning room, the quality went to the stratosphere. But this is my favorite source no matter what the rest items are in the chain and also, I strongly dislike the nostalgic sound of the Shindo's combo. So, we can't say about a good matched source/speaker here. It's just my two favs playing together.

Yes, exactly thats the spirit !
(ie) : 300B=sweetness, 211=soundstage, 6c33c=definition
and : BD=lazy, ID=power, DD=flat

BUT : In their best implementation, they must leave no desire for an alternative and this is our will when we choose to buy an item. If we are tolerate and mistakenly accept any wrong of their general family label as an inherent fault, its like we buy something we don't like from start and then we try to fix it with another's item fault. Allways we are in search for the least compromise in everything without any prejudge. If I've heard an amp that I don't like, it does'nt mean the topology or the tube is not to my liking in every other implementation. An example for me was the Jadis Defy 7 a pentode Push-pull capable for greatness in most systems.

When I substitute my DP80 for a Symphonic Line RG6, my Goldmund monoblocks have had a stroke in preservation of timing. After many trials with power amps (PP, SET, OTL) and many other TTs, I've become aware that this SL RG6 was a very bad BD implementation in keeping the timing intact, while the Goldmund power amps love to analyse this in a big way. In such a desperate realisation and trying to save my losted money, I've made more wrong decisions such as pairing this TT with amps that masking its timing problems. Perhaps the outcome as a result in this mix is a great cheater for my audiophile friends, but for me that I've experienced step by step this personal undergoing of adopting & rescue the reputation of this TT, it is an unreversible tragedy knowing the compromise that I accept from the begining. A lesson that I've learn the hard way.

So, yes. " If we do this let's also match the table with tubes in power amp ". The analogy is correct. The results are the same. In the best form of it we can create a cheater monster.
Congratulations for your guts of posting such a topic.

Dear Dertonarm the world of audio is not only for the exclusive elite of yours that you pass from many stages from inside, but also in this world were many more naive souls that need any help that you can offer. Of course I don't mean Inna. His is the hero who find the courage to post this thread. Υou are in doubt regarding the manipulated sence of the logic coherence that the industry propels? Do you accept the mafia of the audio magazines & all of the fake reviews that manipulate the crowds? Why do you want to leave this situation intact?
Yes I like to believe that you misunderstand my reply, cause If you believe in the "each his own" religion of unconsciousness, then your experience its worthless once you cannot share it. So, go ahead and sing with your friends : Live & Let Die
You see now why this is one hell of a brave thread.
I spit on every elit.

Your last post is the epitome of the cruel reality in audio and of course WE NEED TO OVERTURN THIS AT LAST.
Very serious My dear D. This is the reality and this is the honest, real & valuable contribution of a Agon member.
My self-sarcasm is not "brilliant". It is true and sincere.
Unless you feel that the self-route to progression is not allowed to exposed in public. I want to point, demonstrate and prove the path of the wrong direction. No need to hide things that can be of a major help here.

Now you talking. We were in a complete agreement from start. The only difference is that I choose to focus on the brain storm after the marketing onslaught in our hobby and how can alter the logical steps to the direction of a twisted reality.
And -it's epilogue, not epigraph.

Bill, the key word is "the conclusion" and this I believe Daniel means by closing this theme.
OK my English are lousy, but as you see, I'm trying hard to express something important here so, don't be such a picky Bill now.