You can always get more hung up with things like a cartridge, then oops the tone arm is not the best for this cart. and the whole set up doesn't work optimally with this table etc. etc.. It is kind of humorous though that an $80 mat made such a big impression.
You really haven't said what the sound was missing or described this poor quality sound. It might be useful to know what your hoping to hear that your current set up is failing to provide.
If the McIntosh amp is really mid fi as described by others then you know what you need. My own philosophy is that the speakers are the most important elements of a sound system. I see how they sell very expensive cartridges now.
You really haven't said what the sound was missing or described this poor quality sound. It might be useful to know what your hoping to hear that your current set up is failing to provide.
If the McIntosh amp is really mid fi as described by others then you know what you need. My own philosophy is that the speakers are the most important elements of a sound system. I see how they sell very expensive cartridges now.