Valab LCR-1 Mk2 Mk3

no one who owns it or listened to it at the home of some owner?

I'm in the process of breaking a LCR-1 Mk3 in now. I've had it for about 6 weeks. I can say in my system it's very revealing. It replaced a Lounge Audio MkIII. 
I can't compare it to any other preamps because it's been awhile since I've had a standalone pre in my system.

There's threads on Canuck Audio Mart (mine) and Stereo.net.au that discuss the Valab from current owners perspectives if you'd care to read on further.

@shawnes

I had already read in the past comments on those forums, I wanted to understand here if there were new owners, but I believe that nobody knows this pre phono.

I can't help with impressions of this phono - sorry - I'm also interested in the Valab.
Maybe you have seen this?
 http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/LCR-RIAA-shootout.htm 

He only builds a few every month. Another Canuck Audiomart poster just ordered one and Kevin, Valab’s owner, told him that parts availability are somewhat limited hence the low production volume.

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.

Then, I changed the interconnector with a backup silver RCA.

what is the name of this cable? Kimber Kable Kcag or similar maybe?

 Then, I changed the interconnector with a backup silver RCA.

And the cartridge was?

I use Clear Day silver RCA now.
My cartridges are Audio Technica Art9 and Benz Ruby 2 at 62db and 100 ohm. Both work well with this phono stage.