Inspired by a very good thread on expensive cartridges, I pose the same question regarding the phono stage.

My personal experience is very limited, having tried just a handful of economy/midrange phono preamps. But even within those constraints I've noticed huge differences in the sound quality. I've currently settled on iFi iPhono Micro 2, and am quite happy with the tremendous improvement it is giving me over my old Emotiva XSP-1 phono.

But now I'm wondering if going for some higher-end phono would give me a similar lift? Please chime in if you've had a chance to listen to some high end phono preamps, and if you think those can make a noticeable improvement.