List of top phono preamps best

Pedrillo,
As to my direct experiences with top notch phonostages that I've heard extensively within my system, please see the following link regarding the Wavestream Kinetics phonostage relative to all the other units I've used:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1097183522&openusid&zzCtm_cra&4&5#Ctm_cra

Along with the Wavestream, you owe it to yourslef to hear the Herron phonostage. It is outstanding and if I have not already purchased the Wavestream, I would be looking as this unit very seriously.

I also have a modded Electron Images MCP-1 that was my reference before I heard the Wavestream and the Herron. Here is a link concerning how it compares to other notable phonostages:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1140727350&openusid&zzCtm_cra&4&5#Ctm_cra

As to your request for a sub $3k phonostage, here is a link regarding a not-so-well-known, but trully superb SS phonostage from Australia called the JLTI (Just Listen To It):

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1135029837&openusid&zzCtm_cra&4&5#Ctm_cra

For those who are not familiar with my analog sonic preferences, I really like what tube phonostages do in my system. Yet this SS unit is one that I would gladly live with. There is a newer, Swiss made version that costs a lot more (with or without the PS upgrade). But my local audio club members and I unanimously agree that the Aussie version is the one we like better (more musical and more engaging). It will make believers out of many and will surely embarass a few. Get them while they last!

Finally, you will want to add the Connoisseur, FM Acoustics, Tron and Zanden phonostages to you list. Please note that these recommendations are only based on hearing them at shows (CES, RMAF, etc.) so I have not had the chance to hear them in my system. It would also be great to hear in my system the following: Nick Doshi unit (phonostage or full func pre) or the one made by Raul. As to the Io, it may not have enough gain for a good number of superb MC cartridges. It may be outstanding tonally, but be prepared to hear lots of tube related noise when using low output transducers below 0.5 or 0.6 mV. The Lamm is just not flexible enough as far as cartridge loading is concerned.

As an fyi and as a point of reference, my system's static FR (using uncorrelated pink noise on both CD and LP sources) from the LISTENING position (not on axis) measures -3dB at 20Hz and -3dB at 16.5kHz (-6dB at 20kHz) and is virtually flat elsewhere in between. This was done by using the Phonic PAA2 (and later the PAA3) hand held analyzer. [IMPORTANT NOTE: We really should start demanding that reviewers also publish their static FR from the listening position.]

My system's sonics strengths are tonality and soundstaging. Depending on the recording, it can be deeper than wide with very nice layering and delineation. Left and right imaging extends well beyond the speakers. It also has outstanding resolving ability. Although fairly dynamic, it can be a bit more so as we more often than not can benefit from having more of this very desireable attribute.

Happy listening!

As a follow-up...

A few local audio club members heard in my system the Artemis PL-1 against the Wavestream and Herron. We all preferred both these other tube phonostages to the Artemis.

We listened to a number of our reference lps and made sure the cartridge loading was consistent from one unit to another and that listening levels were adjusted as much as possible (to within < or = 1dB) using uncorrelated pink noise from a test lp.

The artemis was good, but we concluded that it may be worthwhile to revisit the Artemis, but next time use the PH-1 (without the internal step up transformers). There was no bypass switch on the PL-1 that allos us to hear the unit without its internal 1:10 step up devices.

The highs tended to be less smooth on the PL-1 even after tube rolling using 7044 tubes (which we preferred over the Tung-Sol 5687, Amperex 7119 and Bendix 6900 tubes). The music had more finesse and was more refined while also having more immediacy and presence through the Wavestream and Herron. Overall, lp playback was more engaging though these latter two phonostages.