What's more important: phono stage or amp

Turntable.
But what Al said is of course true.

In my opinion, the phono stage needs to be matched to the cartridge, the amp needs to be matched to the speakers. Two different ends of a continuous process. But would be ok spending more on a phono preamp than an amp.

I look at it this way... The amp is on all the time regardless of the source. And if the amp can't deliver the goods you'll never realize the potential of the phono stage.

But what do I know?
Tony

Al summed it up succinctly.

agreed..no sense having a great phono stage with a mediocre amp...so both are important as is the table, cart, arm, pre-amp, interconnects, speakers cable, ect. As Al says "A chain is as strong as its weakest link" no truer words spoken.