What it is
Michael Fidler / Classic Audio Ltd — Kent, UK. The LO PRO is the long-awaited 2026 successor to the discontinued MC PRO (2023). A complete redesign with surface-mount technology, higher transistor count, and improved RF immunity. **Limited run of 80 units, UK sales only** — no exports until scale production begins. Per Fidler: "As the company has higher priority products in development, delays to scale are to be expected. Requests for exceptions may not receive a response."
Topology improvements vs MC PRO: (1) compound loading network reduces insertion loss while isolating LOMC RF resonances; (2) LM4562 op-amp driving discrete input amplifier — extends linear bandwidth, improves RF immunity; (3) **higher transistor count on front end** — extra BC327 device per channel vs MC PRO parallel pairs, with quieter constant-current source replacing RC rail filter; (4) higher bias current → lower voltage noise → SNR exceeds 82dB (vs MC PRO ~80dB).
RIAA equaliser: shunt-feedback architecture with high-stability 1% tolerance ceramic C0G capacitors + helical thin-film resistors. Components doubled in parallel arrays — tight 1% tolerances averaged for "typical accuracy far beyond published specifications." Shunt-feedback tracks RIAA curve below unity gain at HF without a "correction pole" — exceptionally linear because the equaliser operates with no common-mode voltage.
Subsonic filter: 3rd-order using triple parallel arrays of distortion-free C0G capacitors. Flatter bass response + sharper roll-off than MC PRO. 20.5Hz turnover delivers 20dB attenuation at 10Hz (the worst arm-cartridge resonance frequency). Final 6dB gain applied AFTER filter so subsonic disturbances don't consume headroom.
Specifications headline figures: SNR 82dB ref 500µV/10Ω cartridge (220Hz-22kHz), THD <0.0005% at 21V RMS, RIAA ±0.1dB 35Hz-25kHz, 6dB lower channel balance than spec, 24.2dB overload margin at 62.2dB gain ref 500µV. Per Fidler: "equivalent input noise voltage not significantly greater than thermal noise of a 15Ω resistance" — common 1:10 cartridge-to-input ratio rule no longer applies above 15Ω cartridge resistance.
Output amplifiers: NJM5532 delivering 20V+ RMS throughout audio band into challenging 2kΩ line load, <5ppm THD. RF-stop networks embedded in line output. 6-second muting relay startup delay prevents transients during head + DC servo stabilisation.
Pink Fish Media user review (early September 2025): "A week ago I purchased a brand new Lo-Pro phono-stage (not even on his website yet), that is internally a complete re-imagination and re-design of his excellent, now discontinued MC Pro model. It is definitely lower noise, it has superb RF interference filtering, offers a flatter bass response and the mains circuit protection has been improved." Confirms class-leading transparency vs MC PRO.
Cartridge compatibility — LOMC focus: 62.2/68.2dB RCA or 68.2/74.2dB XLR gain handles all LOMC cartridges including very-low-output (Ortofon Anna 0.2mV, Cadenza Black 0.33mV, Lyra Delos 0.6mV, Hana ML 0.4mV / SL 0.5mV, Kondo IO-J 0.12mV at 74.2dB limit). Coil resistances up to 50Ω supported without noise penalty (most LOMC have 1-30Ω). Cartridges above ~1mV overload — use MM PRO MkII or SPARTAN 20 instead.
Availability constraint: UK-only sales for the 80-unit limited run. International buyers must wait for scale production. Order directly via michaelfidler.com — accepts crypto payments per Pink Fish Media.
Who it comes up against
14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up bass weight under the Anchored weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
0.0005% THD — vanishingly low distortionSPEC: THD 0.0005% (manufacturer)
ultra-low-noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO
14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Intimate brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gains most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
0.0005% THD — vanishingly low distortionSPEC: THD 0.0005% (manufacturer)
RIAA tracking within +/-0.1dBSPEC: RIAA accuracy +/-0.1dB (manufacturer)
8 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Frog gives up bass weight under the Anchored weighting.
equivalent input noise barely above 15Ω thermal noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO (ASC-2 [1047] + maker measurements)
7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
0.0005% THD — vanishingly low distortionSPEC: THD 0.0005% (manufacturer)
ultra-low-noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot clearly.
With the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
0.0005% THD — vanishingly low distortionSPEC: THD 0.0005% (manufacturer)
3 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the van den Hul The Colibri, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the van den Hul The Colibri gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.
equivalent input noise barely above 15Ω thermal noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO (ASC-2 [1047] + maker measurements)
equivalent input noise barely above 15Ω thermal noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO (ASC-2 [1047] + maker measurements)
2 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio 60Se Pro keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
ultra-low-noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot clearly.
With the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
0.0005% THD — vanishingly low distortionSPEC: THD 0.0005% (manufacturer)
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio TITAN Pro II keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the stronger phono stage — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Goldring Eroica HX MC gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.
ultra-low-noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU keeps the slot decisively.
With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Michael Fidler LO PRO is the weaker phono stage for that brief.
ultra-low-noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO
equivalent input noise barely above 15Ω thermal noiseMichael Fidler LO PRO (ASC-2 [1047] + maker measurements)