Hell, yeah! Everything in the signal path and attached to a cartridge makes a difference. Materials and construction improve as one spends more on headshells, wires and mounting hardware. This translates to better detail retrieval and micro-resolution. Naturally, the higher your system resolution, the more noticeable these differences will be, which is why I focus […]

Cartridge-tonearm matching is very important! In fact, the match is so critical that improperly matched elements can lead to a dangerous condition that can damage vinyl and even potentially break a cartridge.

Yes, though this answer depends on what one considers decent and affordable. Those looking for new high-performance machines for under $1,000 will find very little of interest. High-performance turntabling can’t be done for $1K new; spend a little more, though, and things start to improve. If you broaden your horizons to include pre-owned equipment, then