Stand out phono stages

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.

I also recently purchased the K&K unit just a few weeks ago and so far I really love it, but I have only been able to try it out on the MM carts that I have (Benz Glider HOMC and Clearaudio Maestro). The whole reason I bought it is for the flexibility with MC carts but I just haven't been able to grab one yet to try. I wish I had more experience with phono stages to be able to compare, but against the stock MM stage in my VAC Avatar Super it is certainly much better.