Phono stages belong to which tier?

I would also add to the top teir the Allnic H 3000, with it's transformer coupled design.

Since I am not a ss guy, i can not comment on these designs, but have heard and am impressed with the Einstein.

I have owned an Aesthetix (IO) Eclipse and Manley Steelhead, currently own a Lamm LP 2 as well as the Allnic and consider them all amoung the best.

Doshi Alaap, tier 1+. Oh! Sorry. The Alaap is not on your list. I've heard it next to Aesthetix, Manley, and Raul's Essential and several others.

Those of you judging the Rhea,are you using the latest "S" version in your comparisons? Just trying to figure how to weigh your opinions ,as the latest version is supposed to be significantly better than the non "S".

I am reluctant to "rate" any particular product -- a lot depends on taste, system matching, etc. So, I will submit some names of phonostages that sounded really good in a particular system I heard.

I own, and really like the Viva Fono. Music through this phono stage is very vivid and harmonically dense. Like most good tube-based phonostages, notes seem to bloom into space and then decay naturally (no artificial and mechanical sounding "edge").

The better Audionote (uk) preamps, like the M-9, and separate phono stages (M-10) are very good. For solid state, I've heard a system with the Connoisseur phono stage that sounded very good -- dynamic and lively without being unduly edgy or grainy sounding.

These are all approaching "crazy" expensive, but they do deliver the goods.

Nice to see all the recomendations for Whest ;)