Stand out phono stages

The Aqvox Phono2 should be added to budget list.
The ModWright SWP should also qualify, although I'm not sure how you determine if its in the first and 2nd list.

Pedrillo, I assume you intended to refer to the Pass XOno, not the old Aleph Ono? In which case I'm a bit puzzled to find it in the budget list. I don't know what the XOno retails for in the US, in Germany you'd need to fork out EUR 5.5 or thereabouts. Whatever, if it's too expensive for the second then it certainly deserves to be in the first list.

Here are my other contenders (I'll quote the retail where known, you decide where to put it)

State-of-the-Art (imho):
MalValve Preamp Three Phono (EUR 6k); there is also a MalValve Preamp Four Phono that I haven't had the pleasure of hearing and don't know the price tag, but since it's more than likely to be even better than the Three...
http://www.malvalve.de/preamp1.html

Big Overachievers:
Quad Twenty Four P (EUR 1.5k): I had this in my rig for a while. With the little bit of experience in tube-rolling I gained meantime, I'm sure it could score even higher.
Tom Evans Microgroove Plus (EUR 1.5k): I chose the Quad at the time because of its far greater flexibility and the little bit of additional mellowness seemed to fit my cart better, but wow, this little guy knows how to sing and swing.
Clearaudio Basic Plus (EUR 0.5k): impeccable in its own right, together with the Accu Plus (battery unit for another EUR 0.5k) astonishingly good.

Also, as I see you mention Whest PS.20R, its successor the Whest PS.30R (EUR 2.2k) is supposed to be a spectacular improvement (hearsay, though, haven't heard it myself)

The Modwright SWP really should be on both lists.

Just to clarify things a bit.
In most cases if a phono stage has been around for a while and shows up frequently used on a-gon for $2k or around there it falls into the less expensive group, the new phono stages that retail for the same around $2k they also end up in the budget group.
Some phono stages must certainly stand out as much better than others, but I'll let the experienced chime in, and eventually create an "a+" list in both price groups.
Some reference was made towards the cole, a kit (from Japan?) stating it as an over achiever. Anyone with experience on the cole?
Also those who have owned several phono stages and haven't chimed in, any worthy notes on comparisons?
Here are some that have been mentioned on gon and will be add to the lists : Quicksilver, ZYX Artisan, Quad QC-24P, Jadis JPP-200, Joule, Audio Horizons, Modwright SWP-9.0Se, Whest PS.30R, EAR 88pb, Martinson(whatever happened to this phono?), Malvalve, Evans Microgroove, Clearaudio Basis Plus, Accu Plus, Aqvox 2.
Just want to reiterate, this is not the end all list. So many other parts of our systems influence the sound we get. We all have different setups and room acoustics too and taste.
The main purpose of this list is to include stages that can offer great value at their price points. We all can't afford the exotics, therefore I included lesser expensive stages that still stir our souls. Then there are those brands with small advertisement budgets or are too new to be well known. Face it we have so many companies some are a one man show that are producing excellent electronics for music enjoyment. Unfortunately I have not heard most of those listed here, though I am working on it, give me a few decades. Another reason for this compilation is to put the names of phono stages on the map, into one list to get an idea of the variety. Eventually there will be two tier list in each price catagory.

My 2 cents worth. My favorites that I've owned in preferred order:

1. Wavestream (latest)
2. Aesthetix Io Sig. MK II
3. Mares Connoisseur 2.0
4. Vendetta 2C