The exact quote, which has some important caveats (which I have italicized):
"Since the transducer is likely to contribute most to the final sound, assuming the tonearm in question can properly handle it, I'd put as much as possible into the cartridge just as I would into the speakers assuming the amplifier can do the job."
He is taking a fairly common position in audio that the transducers, the devices transforming mechanical energy into electricity, or electricity back into mechanical energy are the most important items in a signal chain. So cartridges on one end (groove--> electrical signal) and speakers on the other (electricity--> sound waves). Of course, how a signal is handled along the way is important. But this is less crucial to the overall sound, unless there is a mismatch somewhere along the chain.
Now with turntables, of course the transducer (cartridge) needs help from the arm, turntable isolation, etc.
As a side note, the disproportionate importance of transducers is why I am always surprised to find folks asking about speakers to match a particular amp. Speakers first, then get figure out the amp IMHO.
