What is the best phono preamp you have heard?

i am a total newbie, and may be WAY behind the rest here, but does anyone have nay experience with the early (mid-to-late 70s) PS Audio Phono Pre amps? seems like many who have posted here are either old enough, or have been thru enough gear to possibly have tried these?

i have a PS Audio III and a matching Linear Control Unit up and running... probably late 70s maybe like 1978-79?

just asking, and trying to learn a bit. was perusing past threads on MC cartridges, amps and S/U transformers trying to pick up some info and happened upon this thread.

just for your information, i have mono Quicksilver M-80s, the PS Audio pre amps with Vandersteen 3s, also a Rega Planar3 TT, McIntosh MR 71 and Jolida JD100 CDP... all vintage, except the TT and CDP.

thanks
tom

I think so far -- IMHO -- it has to be a toss up between the Boulder 2008, Precision Fidelity C7/A Revised, and Counterpoint SA-5000.

The Nagra VPS.

I have yet to hear a best phono stage...I own/owned a few good ones: the Aesthetix-Eclipse and Signature both with 2 power supplies and NOS tubes, Lamm lp2 deluxe with Western Electric 417a tubes, Allnic, Manley Steelhead, VAC Renaissance, etc...because there is no single best. Obviously, system dependence plays a major role, but I am not sure one unit can be a "best".

You have to decide on what you are willing to spend, what features are important to you and compromises you are willing to live with and live with them.

If I could plug in one unit that simply is the best, my wish list would include-ultra low noise, huge variable gain, infinitely adjustable settings from a remote, neutral to the extreme, plenty of air and bloom, very low
distortion, and most importantly the ability to play more often than not music that makes me feel like I am at a live performance.

I have not heard one like this yet

The AMR phono stage has most of the features you desire, perhaps even the last one.