KTE LCR-1 MK5 / MK5S – MC/MM/MI – LCR RIAA Phono Stage

This is our 2021 MK5/version of LCR-1 RIAA phono. We are quite proud of this version of the LCR1, as it has improvements in the low end bass region.  We have made some improvements in the RIAA EQ chokes, specifically with the wire windings. 

Also the MK5 will have a very very limited edition release called the MK5-S WBT which is essentially the standard Silver wire version however with upgraded RCA connectors from WBT. PURE silver WBT Rca connectors. These will be limited a very small run. Email us if you would be interested in this model.

Kevin Valab’s experience in phono stage design and LCR choke building experience teamed with KitsuneHiFi to further tune and get the very most out of a Phono Stage. Total of 9 revisions have been designed/built and now what you see is our workout in past 4 years.

If you are serious analog audiophile then its quite possible that you may have a dream to have a LCR RIAA phono stage and know these can be very expensive. Typically the price is too much for many as well as they are somewhat rare. For LCR RIAA EQ it is so difficult to build and they require inductors that are extremely expensive. Valab in Taiwan has developed these LCR RIAA EQ chokes and are custom made to our specification. These use 80% high nickel content Permalloy cores and chokes. It has incredibly low DCR and capacitance. Each choke has 2 layers of electro magnetic “EMI” shielding to assure very low interference.

New full discrete circuit design which works at higher voltage to drive LCR equalization and followed by discrete class-A circuit as output stage, all transistors were carefully matched, and full DC design.

The New LCR inductors we are using are 3 times larger than early models of the LCR1, but have only 1/3 of the inner resistance. These cost significantly more but will be worthy investment for new LCR EQ and get perfect linear curve and ultra low distortion! They deliver music with significantly more detail and especially have very good micro dynamics. the MK5 has improve low end bass response. Total authority.

No capacitors in signal path and No-feedback LCR EQ circuit.

This is indeed KitsuneHiFi’s best implementation of the LCR-1 and is based on intensive investment and research and development. MK4 and MK5 is exclusive to KitsuneHiFi. You will not find it elsewhere.

Separate power supply design to eliminate EMI and vibration from power transformer. So this phono stage is incredibly quiet. No audible noise even with 100db level with speakers. How’s it sound? While it’s the best Phono we have ever heard. And better than many other phono stages 10x it’s price! It’s incredibly dynamic and pulls details out of analog vinyl that most phono stages cannot achieve. Staging is incredibly deep and wide with excellent separation. Foot tapping worthy.

It is full of components that are quite high in cost and implementation. You can see and appreciate the photos on this phono stage. All parts are carefully chosen,  Dale resistors, Valab wound LCR RIAA EQ chokes (80% Nickel Permalloy), Panasonic and SIC-Safco, Nichicon, Vishay capacitors and more. OCC internal wiring for signaling. Almost no budget concerns, we use best sounding and most reliable parts based on our experience.

Each KTE LCR-1 MK5 Phono stage is fitted with a discrete voltage regulation that has -125db PSRR and about <10uV output noise/ripple. This in turn allows the phono stage to deliver super detailed sound stage and micro dynamics. And of course excellent SNR.

Most importantly, we use expensive choke based LCR RIAA Equalization instead of conventional RC RIAA. In conventional RC RIAA circuit, music signals are ‘digested’ in resistor-capacitor filter for it’s large value resistor in circuit. While in LCR RIAA, almost all music details preserved!

You can easily hear more music details and subtle nuanced that would otherwise be lost in most other phono stage circuits. So if you use LCR RIAA, your analog system can easily output ultra high resolution like a top end digital audio system and of course, very natural analog sound. 

Must be heard to appreciate! LCR RIAA phonos all sold at incredibly high prices. We developed this product to deliver a reasonable price to the most demanding analog audiophile. We believe there is no compromises in sound quality and the KTE LCR-1 MK5 pairs perfectly with high end cartridges/turn tables.

NOTE: AC power cable is not included, and recommend user chooses their own high quality Audio Grade power cable.