Valab LCR-1 Mk2 Mk3

I've been running a Valab LCR-1 Mk2 for a couple of years now and haven't once thought of using something different. It's one of those components which is perfectly transparent and as such will never be the bottleneck in a system.
That said I do prefer using a Hashimoto HM-7 SUT with my AT ART9 rather than the built in gain settings. Sounds fuller and more natural to my ears.

I have one of the MkIV's from Kitsune HiFi, best improvement to my analog deck yet.  Looks great and first rate build quality for under 5K to boot.

I went to Kitsune hi fi website, need some clarification.  Is the KTE LCR-1 MK4 phono stage an upgrade over Valab LCR-1 MK3?

Responding to a year old thread because I just got the MK5 version, who really makes it? Sounds very good

I own the KTE LCR-1 MK4 for a month now, purchasing a used one from a fellow Goner jkreider, while my other preamp/phono (Supratek Cortese) was on a repair service. My first impression was good, but not great (great detail and dynamic, black background and wide soundstage, but lacking in harmony). I tried several gain and impedance change without too much success and kept going back to the built in phono section of the Cortese.  Then, I changed the interconnector with a backup silver RCA. With this change, everything just sounds RIGHT!!!. It is a simply amazing performer now. I've owned a few tube phono with much higher price, but KTE LCR-1 MK4 is the keeper.