Completely agree with ultrasonic record cleaning. In addition to immediate sonic benefits, it prolongs stylus life.
When you upgrade your analogue system, the correct order is turntable (for sonorous sound), tonearm (for repeatable adjustments), step-up transformer (if you are getting into LOMC), and then cartridge. I did it the other way around, against expert advice, and wasted too much money.
Thing is, cartridges wear out. Styli wear; suspensions wear, etc. The other three components set you up for the duration, and they don't break. Spend your money there first.
When you upgrade your analogue system, the correct order is turntable (for sonorous sound), tonearm (for repeatable adjustments), step-up transformer (if you are getting into LOMC), and then cartridge. I did it the other way around, against expert advice, and wasted too much money.
Thing is, cartridges wear out. Styli wear; suspensions wear, etc. The other three components set you up for the duration, and they don't break. Spend your money there first.