Turntable versus tonearm versus cartridge: which is MOST important?


Before someone chimes in with the obvious "everything is important" retort, what I'm really wondering about is the relative significance of each.

So, which would sound better:

A state of the art $10K cartridge on a $500 table/arm or a good $500 cartridge on a $10K table/arm?

Assume good enough amplification to maximize either set up.

My hunch is cartridge is most critical, but not sure to what extent.

Thanks.


bobbydd
Ok - I'll have the last word.  The turntable is the most important component ; ).
Post removed 

Let's see, we have a great car (Turntable). Now lets pick the tires that should go on it (cartridge). Finally, what road/track will you choose to drive it on (record album). It matters doesn't it? God forbid, you buy a 4 wheel drive Jeep and expect it's best performance on the Indy race track. Better yet, what about an Indy car in the dirt? 

 

   Is this all equal to audio? 

@atmasphere  Ralph, that was very incisive.

4krowme, wrong analogy. The car is the turntable and the cartridge is the motor. Regardless of what kind of race you are in, more power is ALWAYS better but you can put too much power in a vehicle that can not handle it safely. Looked at it this way there is a philosophical similarity.

Ralph, look at it this way, your bike is the turntable and your legs are the cartridge. You know darn well what happens when they fail:-)