Stand out phono stages

To answer to the above, I just think that all component that are good, are good objectively and we all just use them as tone controls. I'll give an example now that I have the ASR Basis Exclusive: My speakers are Quad ESL57 and they are incredible at what they are incredible at, tonal realism, tactile sound, elbow room around instruments, airy presentation but for all time, people have been trying to get a little more sparkle out of the top end and a little less mushy bass. I've been able to help this by using a higher powered tube amp than is traditionally suggested (using protection boards) and after years of using an Art Audio phono stage, I've found that the ASR Basis gives me all that tube midrange and realism but I'm able to squeeze more top end sparkly out of the Quads by using it. People I know who own to the very best phono stages tell me that once you get into the ASRs and the other units in that price range and above, the difference between tubes and solid state is not really the issue anymore. I've found that to be true with my experiences since my initial post. And it's not like I can just change speakers because I'm not going to find what I love in the Quads in any other speakers.

I purchased a Silvaweld SWH550 phono stage (the top phono in that now extinct line of product) about 6 months ago, to use as a dedicated MM phono stage. Found it on eBay for surprisingly low cost, probably because few people have ever heard of Silvaweld, let alone do they know that Silvaweld products were designed by the same guy who now designs for Allnic. Brad Morricab gave rave reviews to the lesser SWH450 version, in Positive Feedback and on the internet. The 550 is pretty cool, uses tube rectification, choke-input filter, and separate tube-based voltage regulators for R and L channels. Each tube in the circuit also has its own decoupling capacitors located near the plate pins. However, unlike the top Allnic phono stages, the SWH550 does not use LCR RIAA filtering. I've been enjoying it, but not insanely so. The other day, I replaced the suspect output coupling caps with a pair of Mundorf Silver/Oil caps that I broke in before installation. Holy cow! This simple upgrade vaulted the Silvaweld into the stratosphere. The SWH550 feeds my MP1. I use the built-in MP1 phono stage for MC cartridges. I have not heard a huge variety of very expensive phono stages, but suffice to say that the Silvaweld is terrific, as is of course the MP1. The Silvaweld has MC capability; the needed extra gain is added at the input via the use of what appear to be battery-biased JFETs, rather than the more typical SUTs. Have not auditioned the MC circuit. This should remind us that brand names are secondary; the meat of the matter is the circuit design and the parts implementation.

After trying various phono stages with my ZYX R100H cartridge these last months, I ended up with a BMC MCCI.

It is built like a tank, and it looks it right away!

It resembles the sound of the ASR mini Exclusive (runner up on my list) , but it somehow creates a more uniform transition from one instrument to the other, except when the artist (or sound engineer) specifically wants something to stand out.
Other phono stages I tried at home on the same setup were the PS Audio, the Audio Analogue Aria (junk for MC carts) and the RCM.

Please note that the BMC has its quirks. It works with MC carts only.

Moreover you need a cart with low internal impedance. For example my Denon DL103 with an impedance of 40 Ohms was a disaster. The ZYX at 8 Ohms really sings.

Another issue is that you need XLR plugs connected to your tonearm cable. Not easy to connect different arms every now and then.

The M/C phonostage in my Hovland HP 100 is superb and a step above other phonostages that I have used in the past. (Musical Fidelity LP2, Mod Squad Phono Drive and Benz Micro) Unfortunately Hovland went out of business in 2008.

I use the ASR Basis Exclusive, very good but quite expensive if bought new. Also used the Musical Fidelity kW phono; good sound and built like a tank; like the ASR you can use 2 tables at once. Blue Circle is good at a lower price range; I had the 707; the same performance is available from their model built into PVC pipe. Short on looks but might be the most bang for buck out there; available with different size power supplies.