[Earspeakers]

  low noise input fet is not overkill. In fact phono preamps and stax amps have similar gain at low frequencies.
And the stax amps need to be flat gain to 20khz, something phono preamps do not do.

Yes thanks for the correction, looking at the circuit last night I realized how much gain you needed, and so the reason for the low noise design. 
 
Stax (and 'stats by extension) are such a unique design with special requirements, I'm still coming up to speed. 
 
Kevin while I wait for a BWSE I'm doing KGST and KGSSHV builds (love these freaking things and your circuits so much just have to have it all). Any thoughts on preferring LSK389(A,B,C or D?) vs a pair of matched 2SK170's?