What do you usually upgrade first - cartridge or phono stage ?

Let's assume already pretty high level of both.

Or you just upgrade both at the same time matching new phono to new cartridge ?

inna02-02-2026 3:25am

dwette Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 563 posts 02-02-2026 at 03:48am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I think that's a difficult thing to generalize in such a way. The last time I upgraded, I upgraded my cartridge to a much higher level. Later I upgraded my phono-stage, but that was because I added a second tonearm and needed two inputs. The phono-stage upgrade was great for the cartridge upgrade but not necessary for that reason alone. It'a about striking a good balance in the end. There is no good rule of thumb.
inna OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 8,240 posts 02-02-2026 at 04:10am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete dwette, could you post what you upgraded to what ? And what turntable/tonearms do you have ?
mulveling Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,452 posts 02-02-2026 at 05:11am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete What, only one or the other? Not a few of each at once? That’s way too little chaos for me to enjoy a hobby with... If you have one egregiously below level of the other, then do that one. Otherwise, get which you fancy more; it doesn’t really matter. New cartridges are probably a better dopamine hit (on average) but phono stages can stick around for multiple carts, don’t need alignment, and don’t wear out (so much).