Phono stages belong to which tier?

I owned a manley steelhead until i got my Mcintosh C2300, the phono stage surpassed the manley and I sold it. I bought a TronSeven reference and like it better than the c2300. I also use Tele Ecc803's gold pins, and 1 mullard master series 12au7, probably helps a little....

I would probably suggest adding the Hagerman Trumpet to the list, perhaps as a 1's tier if you don't need a step-up for your cartridge and 2nd tier if you do. It just doesn't have the gain for LOMC's, but otherwise is a superb phono stage.

add a new one to the list
Paul Hynes Phono for those that have heard it's real good

Hmmm Are you splitting between MM & MC phono stages?

With anything the following is based on what I heard in my system with MC cartridges - mainly my dyna XV-1.

I currently own a TW Acustic phono - wonderful phono stage, natural presentation, pure tube gain with little noise, 3 inputs are fantastic to compare tables/carts. No MM, just MC.

I also use the MM & MC inputs of my Mac MC2300 & agree with Tjnif that the MC stage is excellent.

I used a Pass Xono for quite a while and it is a solid performer that does nothing wrong and is flexible - just lacks that magic that tubes give.

EAR 834P is a fantastic little phono stage, as long as you swap the stk tubes out.

Others that I have listened to in my system are

- Aesthetix IO - single power supply - superb sound but a little noisy for me.
- Aesthetix Rhea - too noisy for LOMC
- ARC PH5 - good sounding for its price
- ARC PH7 - great sound, slightly gray thou,not as flowing as the best and low gain can cause issues in some systems
- Einstein MC - vibrant, forward & dymanic - ultimately just too much
- EAR - 88PB - fanatastic sounding phono - almost bought that before TW.
- Sutherland PHD - very pure & quiet but no micro dynamics
- Kondo M7 & KSL-SFZ - good sound but too forward/agressive and in your face. sounds better balanced as a MM without the KSL transformer.
- Ayre P5e - nice sounding but lacks a little life.
- Manly Steelhead - hifi sounding - sounds more like SS than tubes

Add Zanden 1200 Mk 2 (or 3) to the list. In my book surely a top tier contender. Some other very good mentions above
In old phono stages Vendeatta Research was/is also an out standing performer, so much that it could belong in upper tiers.