The kW phono stage is technically the best in the world regardless of price. You might find one or two which claim to have the odd specification slightly better than the kW phono but there is none from any source whatever which offers the kW phono stage's package of technical excellence bordering on perfection. What you hear is exactly what your cartridge has transduced from the final pressing. The kW phono stage cannot be overloaded, is incredibly quiet and effectively inaudible, produces incredibly low distortion over the complete audible range and has super accurate equalisation. What the kW phono stage gives you is exactly what was on the disc. No more, no less.