The cartridge is what makes the sound. The turntable only has to rotate the record while isolating it from external vibrations. The tonearm only has to track said cartridge with as little mass as possible.

Going with a cheap cartridge on a nice turntable is like hooking up a $2000 Denon receiver to $75 Radio Shack speakers.

Wait.

Better yet, let me offer a car analogy..... grin

::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::