Stand out phono stages

Patrick,interesting,and thanks for the info.The Erato label,I believe,is the Euro RCA.Not too great,but I DO have a few which are quite good.
The really early Columbia stuff is not easy to find,I think.If it's not in the stereo era,I usually don't kill my back(most of the LP's are now on the floor sections,where I get my vinyl)looking for mono stuff,though I don't rule mono out.Of course "any" good jazz lp's in mono are very desirable to me.Just the classical mono stuff does not turn me on.
BTW,Hi Fi Plus,about a year ago,actually did a very complete comparison of phono stages,where the Zanden went head to head with the Lyra.BOTH came out as the two best Roy Gregory had stated(for what it's worth).
I Do know R.G. likes the Zanden,ALOT!!!
This is just "hobbyspeak",by me,for anyone interested in hashing around this kind of stuff.Other than my own,built in,re-built/extensively modded phonostage,and the few my friends have,I cannot give accurate input on this particular subject.I Do know tube rolling with top NOS tubes made a huge improvement in the stages I have access to.No new news there,I am sure.
What we all try to get,"whether we think so or not",is the "actual sound of our cartridge"!THE most important component in the system,to my way of thinking!All other componentry should just "get out of the way".To my way of thinking(only opinion)once we get really familiar with a well voiced system,which has been carefully considered,and lived with, you kind of get a REAL sensation that the sound you are hearing is "that" of the actual cartridge!!Assuming we know what neutral componentry is!
Of course,this is taking into account we know these LP's VERY well too,which can mean we bring them to other friend's homes,as well as dealer/show set-ups to gain interesting insight.Vinylistas really have too much fun,for one lifetime!! No?
Sorry for my typical rant.I'm working on "that".Not too successfully -:)
Best.

Sirspeedy,

I have the Zanden 1200 phonostage and yes , like Roy Gregory says it is one of the great phono stages I have owned. The manual has table to set appropriate RIAA curve selection for many labels. You can clearly listen the sound snap in place(tonally- Thin and excessively body becomes natural respectively)when a right curve is chosen. Like all the other Zanden components, this one is no exception: it performs at whole another unthinkable level.

Nil,
Have you ever compared the Zanden phono and linestages to the Aesthetix Io and Callisto in your system?

Exlibris, No I have not.
Although at one time Aesthetix Io was on my short list for potential phonostage prior to my ownership of Vendetta and the Zanden 1200.

Just to throw a curveball into this discussion, how about the top-of-the-line Soundsmith's Strain Gauge Phono Cartridge and Preamplifier System?

$12k(SG-610) and only works with one cartridge (their own), but who cares if the performance is superb.

Anyone have experience?