[jtsnead]

Just got on of these, internet direct but with a 30 day return policy.

I thought since I have over 6,000 lps it was time to go to a reference
caliber phono stage.

I have owned from a Mod Squad, PS Audio GCPH modified, Modwright SWP 9.0,
Musical Surroundings Nova, Nighthawk and Jasmine LP 2.0 SE and MKii

Also had Avid Pulsus for two weeks and returned it

Bought mainly because of the design and layout, comparing to other photos on line
it looks alot like other higher end units. Speaking with the owner Bill he explained
that he has been working on this for a long time, and has alot on iterations to get
to this point.

I tell you I was not prepared for the size of this unit it is the size of a good size
or small power amp, it is so big that when I put it on the shelf I knocked off my
Bob's SUT and almost pulled out my tone arm leads.

Suffice to say it is a keeper big improvement from the Jasmine in all categories 

I will post more follow ups as I play more music over the weekend

[jtsnead]

I ordered the Phono 2-SB based on a couple comments I found on line while researching for
an upgrade to my Jasmine phono stage. I have been an collector of records since I was a young
teenager, I remember listening to Nat King Cole on my parents console stereo system. I eventually
inherited that stereo which I cut off the speakers and used with my first Pioneer receiver and Hitachi
turntable. I remember buying my first records after shoveling snow for money in my neighborhood they
were Montrose and Aerosmith first albums. This lead to a long life of learning and appreciating all
different kinds of music. So now that I am older and have over 6000 records I felt that it was time
to really get the most possible form my collection within a reasonable budget.

I have owned all types of cartridges from Signet, Monster, Audioquest, Sumiko, Lyra, Benz, Denon
and now I am using a Dynavector. I have a good turntable VPI Scout which I changed the tone arm out
to a Trans-Fi Terminator air bearing design, this really allowed for the difference in cartridges to be
heard. Now I can change arm wands to go between a warmer sound cartridge like the Benz to a more
accurate like the Denon to a dynamic one like the Dynavector. I felt the next best step up would be
a better phono stage. So based on what I read and what I saw on line I ordered the Phono 2-SB. The
pictures of the interior of the unit really interested me, if you research very high end phono stages
you will see similar design layouts, dual mono with separate boards, balanced design and outboard
power supply. The electronics looked like something you would see in a 10K phono stage. I ordered
the unit without hearing it, Bill does offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

I did not expect a 10K type unit which you do not get as far as the case work, also you have to take
the top off for the adjustments, which I do not mind if allows for a more accurate signal path. I put
in place of my Jasmine and once I had all the settings confirmed (which did include me making a call
at 7:00PM to LKV which Bill answered and set me straight as to why it did not have the right gain
setting) I played a couple sides of a record while I was filing records and cleaning up a little.
During that time I was able to get rid of a ground loop hum totally, which I have never been able to
quiet down before in my system, but with all the grounding options the 2-SB offers I was able to
do away with all the noise. The first record I listened to was Kraftwerk's box set Minimun Maximun,
WOW this was a huge step up, dead quiet back ground, dynamics through the roof and bass seemed
to extend an extra octave lower. Very accurate I hear more of what the record has to offer, better out
of phase resolution on records that have that, try Fever Ray, Roger Walters. The vocals I love retained
the warmth and glow like Ella on Fine and Mellow. I am very happy with the purchase of the 2-SB and
would highly recommend one to anyone with a system with equal resolution.

As a follow up since the 2-SB has balanced in and outputs, I bought a balanced line stage (Wyred 4 Sound
2.0SE) which allowed me to run all balanced from phono out to my amplifier. This was another step up
mainly in detail and resolution. This was using a standard Mogami balanced cable versus my XLO Ref 3.
I am going to order a balanced phono cable from Trans-Fi to have a balance signal from my cartridge
to the amplifier so hopefully it will be another step in a very fine analog play back system. Stay tuned
for a follow up.

Happy Listening,
JT Snead

[Minn Mark]

Thanks for sharing.

I am considering purchase of a Nova II to support my Sumiko Blackbird and will love to hear any comparisons in these two units you can share?

Is the LKV really worth the extra $1000 plus, versus the Musical Surroundings?

Thanks in advance for your posts,

M

[Minn Mark]

Bump.

Any listening comparisons of the LKV vs others, including the MS Nova II ?

Mark

[neobop]

Did you see this review?
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0813/lkv_research_2_sb_phonostage.htm

"It also takes a clever audiophile to realize what phono preamp will match the rest of his or her system. Compared to my reference Pass Labs, the Phono 2-SB has a slightly more detailed sound. I wouldn't call it overly analytical, but the rest of my system, especially my speakers, tend to lean this way and this may be why I'm so happy using a tubed linestage, and a phono preamp that has been compared by some to have a sound that is similar to some tubed phono stages. Despite this, the overall sound and flexibility of the LKV Research makes it one of the best phono preamplifiers I've ever had the pleasure of using in my system. I could imagine owner Bill Hutchins having to deal with backorders in the near future, because when word gets out that he is selling such a great product for such a reasonable price, the LKV Research is likely to become a very popular product... and for good reason! I highly recommend ordering one of these babies now, before everyone else gets the same idea."

And this:
http://www.analogplanet.com/content/lkv-research-phono-2-sb-mmmc-phono-preamplifier-affordable-excellence

You might be hard pressed to find a direct comparison to the Nova II.  They are in a different price class.  Are you running balanced line?  Single ended you're limited to 59dB of gain for a LOMC, but that's usually enough. 
Highly detailed, dynamic, quiet and neutral - sounds good to me, but not everyone's cup of tea.   BTW, HP of TAS also gave it a glowing endorsement.  Maybe if you search for reviews of the Nova II and see what it's compared to and what they say, you can get an idea if the LKV is worth the extra money to you.
neo

[woodsyi]

I heard it at Gary Gill's house when he had that mini-fest to promote the Capital Audiofest.  I couldn't really tell how it sounded because I didn't have a baseline since I didn't know the ancillary gear nor the room.  Nothing sucked but nothing grabbed me either in that room.  Having said, Bill is really a nice guy and seems very earnest.  This is not a marketing mirage.  He has put a lot of work into this. Everything that he says makes sense and you know he put in a lot of work into the design.  If I were in the market for a phonostage in the 1K to 3K range, I would definitely check it out.  You have to try it in your system and see if it works.  Synergy thing is not a myth -- it's real.

[xsb7244]

Any news:

LKV Phono GS-1

LKV line 2-SB preamp

[jtsnead]

I just saw this and wanted to share, the new one is 4k more and very close to design as the 2-SB

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue76/lkv_veros.htm

Also went balanced from cartridge to 2-SB and changed cables from 2-SB to preamp to
wireworld eclipse 7 balanced and it took up the sound quality up another notch