Develop a hierarchy for phono playback

I hate this sort of thread, but I am bored.  So, tonearm, phono stage, cartridge, wires cartridge to phono only, other ICs last. Why I hate this sort of thread: Any item in the chain can screw up the whole deal.  My ranking assumes each item is at least "good", and cartridge not misaligned, although my Viv Float tonearm constantly begs the question of alignment. You do have to align it according to the manufacturer template, which places the single null point at about 90mm from the spindle. So to that extent, even for the underhung tonearm, alignment is important.  And Dave demonstrated to me most vividly the importance of "zenith", the angle of the stylus contact surfaces to the groove walls which optimally should be 90 degrees.

@lewm said: "I hate this sort of thread, but I am bored." 

You need a hobby! :)

I hate this sort of thread, but I am bored

turn on a news channel

Well it seems that there is universal agreement on two points so far:  First, the record must be a good one, GIGO and all that jazz.  So we will stipulate that the record to be played must be of high quality in every respect.  And second, everything is aligned and set up properly.  So we will also stipulate that set up is precise and optimal as well.  There seems to be debate concerning the phono stage.  My bias puts it at the top of the list in a highly resolving system.  But perhaps compromise is possible if the priority depends on the system.  What think ye?

I agree that the phono stage is very important and I think the tonearm is almost as important. A lesser cartridge in a great tonearm can sound better than a high end cartridge in a so-so tonearm.