Dear Tbromgard : Maybe all answers in the subject are posted but I would like to add mine:
no doubt that each audio system link ( even room temperature. ) is important and what Almarg posted is true but Almarga: how do you determine that system weak link when it is not obvious?.
How I see the question's thread subject?: for me there are two main links one at the begin name it source ( cartridge. ) and the other at the other extreme name it speakers/room. IMHO as better these links as better the quality level ( everything the same. ).
A phono stage is nearest to the source than an amp and at this extreme is obviously more important. The source is not a stand alone link but a set of components that permit signal flow through the audio system, at the other extreme speakers is a set of items too: I think we can't take these two system links as stand alone links but as a set each one.
The phono stage is critical because the cartridge signal has to pass IMHO for the hardest proccess/manipulation that that signal can " see " all over the audio system signal " proccess ". Some one posted that at this stage the system has to work with very low output signals and this is an additional challenge that other system links not even imagine.
Being part of the source any single " error " ( name it: noise, distortions, colorations, etc, etc. ) there can't be fix it but only amplified.
If I have to be obligated to make a choose then I go for the phono stage even that I don't feel " good " talking on stand alone PS as a link because por me the audio system is a set of links more than stand alone links.
Anyway, this is my take.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
no doubt that each audio system link ( even room temperature. ) is important and what Almarg posted is true but Almarga: how do you determine that system weak link when it is not obvious?.
How I see the question's thread subject?: for me there are two main links one at the begin name it source ( cartridge. ) and the other at the other extreme name it speakers/room. IMHO as better these links as better the quality level ( everything the same. ).
A phono stage is nearest to the source than an amp and at this extreme is obviously more important. The source is not a stand alone link but a set of components that permit signal flow through the audio system, at the other extreme speakers is a set of items too: I think we can't take these two system links as stand alone links but as a set each one.
The phono stage is critical because the cartridge signal has to pass IMHO for the hardest proccess/manipulation that that signal can " see " all over the audio system signal " proccess ". Some one posted that at this stage the system has to work with very low output signals and this is an additional challenge that other system links not even imagine.
Being part of the source any single " error " ( name it: noise, distortions, colorations, etc, etc. ) there can't be fix it but only amplified.
If I have to be obligated to make a choose then I go for the phono stage even that I don't feel " good " talking on stand alone PS as a link because por me the audio system is a set of links more than stand alone links.
Anyway, this is my take.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.