Stand out phono stages

Great report, sirspeedy. I do wish you would use the space bar a bit more, though. :-)

If I'm understanding you correctly, the amps and the linestage were different in all three demos?

If this was the case, I wouldn't be able to say anything meaningful about the contribution of any of the phonostages.

Sirspeedy,
I totally agree with you! My system is no where near 6 figures and I think it beats the pants off many of the city's demo setups.
And especailly now as I just got he oppo 980 and highly recommend it.
I also bought the K & K phono stage which so far I think is an excellent phono maybe better than the ear 834p and jlti.
Also thanks for the informative description on your experience.

Pedrillo,I'm totally happy for you.You semed like a fine fellow,when we met(in elevator)at HE-2007.BTW,as stated all I was doing was post some hobbyspeak.Just my "opinions",which I think I mentioned,"like three times"!These were "just impressions" made(admittedly in a dealer demo...a very "well done" one,btw)about how three different sets of electronics affected me....That's it!!
Please, don't anyone take the fun out of my posting some potentially entertaining info(to some,maybe)by making this into some reason for my having to have been politically correct,about a specific electronic "box",and why I felt another design appealed to me,in a "given" set-up.
Best.

BTW,Pedrillo,I was NOT referring to you in my last post.