The best phono stage out there?

Jcarr , we certainly agree about that! There are so many things that have to be taken into account that any designer that focuses too closely on any one aspect may well be doing so at his/her own peril. I think, like you (I imagine), that while its nice to get the specs to look good on paper, that there are so many things that we can't measure and so many things that we do that are not important- you **have** to listen carefully as well.

Audio Tekne TEA-2000.

The phono stage in the Dartzeel preamp bested everything I've had. At its price it better be great

I agree with Atmasphere's posts.
Some phono stages (mostly tubed and with no NFB) pass record noise as a "background" effect, barely noticeable, a very fast and clean transient that fades quickly, while others (mostly SS with lots of NFB) seem to emphasize and hang on too long to the noise, as if the phono amp circuit went into clipping or oscilation.

This is not a frequency response effect, it is about how the phono stage handles the noise spikes, which are very complex and steep signals.

Jonathan is correct that NFB is not bad by itself, it is a tool that must be used properly.
I have had in my system some excellent amplifiers with and without NFB.
In general, mild NFB improves signal to noise ratio, bass control and measurable distortion.
When properly designed, no NFB circuits (specially tubed ones) have great dynamics, aliveness and very clean midrange/treble, but are not the last word in bass control or S/N ratio.

Best is a VERY subjective word than can can only be stated within the context of someone's priorities, budget and limited experience. Regarding phono stages, the sheer number of possible interactions and adjustments makes it impossible to even attempt to rank phono stages.
A $2000 phono stage with good NOS tubes and proper loading/gain wil probably sound much better than a 10K phono stage with generic tubes and improper adjustments.

My best wine "moment" was a cheap Riolla spanish white wine, slightly chilled, accompanying a delicious Paella, though I have tasted several more expensive wines (not a wine expert anyway).

To end this rant and give you some kind of useful advice, I suggest looking up on Audiogon the price of used phono stages. Used prices are a good indication of a product's quality, reliability and desirability.
As far as I know, there are no "classic", highly sought-after SS phono stages. OTOH tubed phono stages tend to retain good value in the used market. Some even appreciate over time.

I hope this helps

I had the pleasure to hear the new K&K Audio Phono stage. WOW! It is truly amazing.