When it comes to connectivity, the KECES S4 leaves nothing to be desired: In addition to two balanced XLR line inputs, there are RCA sockets for a line input as well as for MM or MC phono signals and a phono input for optical cartridges from DS Audio. Practice-oriented values for terminating the cartridges can be set via DIP switches. There are also two RCA line outputs and a balanced XLR line output. Regarding the optical cartridges from DS Audio, I am not going to test this input due to the lack of a corresponding cartridge, so I will limit myself to the MM or MC phono sections. But don't worry: Dirk Sommer will take a closer look at the headphone output and the section for optical cartridges from DS Audio in an upcoming  second review.

Inside, the design is kept strictly symmetrical: The preamplifier boards made in SMD technology are designed in double mono construction and piggybacked on top of each other for the left and right channels. A real treat is the elaborate volume control realized using an R-2R network. The 128 logarithmic volume levels are switched by relays and acknowledge the control process with corresponding clicking switching noises. Incidentally, this is particularly fun with the high-quality all-metal remote control, which has all the control functions at its command: When the volume button is pressed, the relays click through the individual volume levels at high speed. Just for fun, I let the relays click up and down a few times without a pending signal, simply because it made such nice clicking noises. Just then I remembered a sentence I had recently read somewhere: No matter how old you are, you remain a child forever...

The power supply features a generously dimensioned, low stray field toroidal transformer. Even though KECES is known to be a power supply specialist, I didn't notice any special features here. However, the most important thing is that the phono section is protected from any interference on the part of the power supply by the separate housing.

For the listening test, I had no reservations about daring a technological crossover, if you like. As the EternalArts OTL Mark III transformerless tube power amplifier is currently making a guest appearance at my place, this old-school tube amp was just right for me to form an alliance with the modern high-tech KECES S4 preamplifier. And in practice, it actually worked out quite splendidly, both in terms of the amplification factors and the general sound characteristics. For the listening sessions I used the MM system Ortofon 2M Silver and the MC system Ortofon Quintet Red.

In general, I was somewhat surprised that I experienced a burn-in phase with this device, which I usually only know from tube gear. After switching on, the KECES S4 always took about ten minutes to get “to the point”, but over a total period of about thirty hours of operation, I noticed constant small changes in the sound until the curtain was completely lifted, so to speak. I assume that my device was a fairly new one straight from the factory.