LKV Research - Precision Instruments

Precise or Robust. Phone engineers in the 1920s sought the smallest bandwidth for intelligibility which allowed analog signals to repeat consistently throughout the world, no matter the situation, no matter the variation in components. Feedback makes the phone network robust, but not music.

Audiophiles demand precision, listening to the entire audible spectrum with as little noise and distortion as possible. When designed correctly with differential amplification (aka balanced), zero feedback circuits provide the shortest signal paths to minimize multiple noise and distortion factors, not just THD. LKV Research's AZF short signal path, gain circuit delivers extremely quiet amplification from phono stages through the first power stage for precision listening.

The physical realities of loudspeakers require different solutions. Speakers have low impedances of 2 to 8 ohms and vary with frequency. To provide consistent voltage drive to the loudspeaker, power amps must use feedback to maintain extremely low output impedance. Class D amps have had a reputation for unsatisfying high frequency sound. But that changed with the advent of Hypex NCore Class D high-current modules, designed by the genius of Bruno Putzeys. NCores use an innovative feedback loop to maintain constant feedback levels throughout the audio spectrum. High frequency sound is sweet and airy. Bill Hutchins, the chief designer of LKV Research, combined a linear power supply with an optimized AZF circuit for the NCore's input. The Veros PWR+ was created for both RCA and XLR inputs.

LKV Research's Veros PWR+ combined the expertise gained from designing the Veros phono stage for low-output moving coils (0.1 mV) with the output circuitry of the NCore 500. As a precision instrument built with 76 matched JFETs. The Veros PWR+ truly rivals all audiophile power amplifiers.

Zero feedback for precision requires differential (balanced) amplification to reject noise, short signal paths to slash picking up noise, matched FETs, polypropylene capacitors, metal-film resistors, HEXFRED diodes, no op-amps to prevent distortion, and dual-mono topology to minimize crosstalk. The resulting ultralow noise floor from the AZF gain circuit provides a dramatic S/N ratio.

Accuracy means driving your loudspeakers without adding problems. LKV Research builds sophisticated, precision instruments for your listening ease. The LKV Veros phono, line, and power components provide exceptional audiophile clarity; especially when connected with XLR cables. Please see our website and designer's blog for details and to purchase electronics that deliver on their promise.