Stand out phono stages

If you want to get way beyond an EAR and JTLI, I agree with Piedpiper on Lyra Connoisseur, Wavestream Kinetics, but would add Aesthetix Io Signature as top for me in no particular order. I've owned all three and could have lived with any one of those three- right now the Wavestream Pre-amp and Phono stages are providing beautiful music my system.

Also the other recommendations will improve your music system. Most (all) are so expensive. Did you have a price range in mind?

Jtimothya,
You mention the Atma-Sphere MP-1 and the Aesthetix IO.
Have you had a chance to compare the two in your system?

I'm sure the MBLs are wonderful, but so are a dozen others.

Exlibris - hi, I've heard the IO (non-Sig) a few years ago in a system somewhat different from mine, but have not had the opportunity to hear it in my own system to compare with the MP-1 mk.III. I think its fair to say both are 'stand out phono stages'.

Piedpiper,
I guess it all depends on what each of us is looking for.
I've never heard a full-range box speaker that didn't sound like I was listening to a stereo. To me, some sound like incredibly fantastic stereos and some sound like bad stereos but they all sound like stereos.
That said, the 101Es are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I think we all end up picking the flaws that we can live with.
Sorry to have derailed this phono stage thread with speaker talk. I'm more interested in hearing about the Io and other stand out phono stages than in talking about MBLs anyway.