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Phono Stage, Tonearm, Cartridge Question - Which is the most important?

I’ve been on this site for some time and have always been impressed with the amount of knowledge here.  I am a music lover to the core and I really enjoy the end result of high-end audio.  Over the past 3-4 years I have significantly upgraded my system based on advice here and from professional retailers. I have no technical skills or background but would say I have graduated from “I don’t know what I don’t know” to “I know what I don’t know” with what I don’t know being quite a lot.  I am, however, intellectually curious and eager to understand how things work.

With that background, my question is this. When considering the phono stage, tonearm and cartridge chain, which component is the most significant determinant of how a record sounds? I know everyone has different views about how something should sound but which of the three components has the greatest impact on how something will sound and why?

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

@puppyt

 

 

 

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Showing 1 response by dogberry

dogberry
578 posts
 

I don't say anyone else is wrong, but there is probably a definitive answer to this. The problem is that we are all subject to bias from what we upgraded last and which last impinged on our appreciation of our music. I'm just as subject to that as anyone else, so take this with a grain of salt.

1. Cartridge

2. Phono stage

3. Tonearm

4. Turntable.

And to qualify, if any one of the above is letting down the rest, it should automatically move to the top of the list for immediate replacement.

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