Robert Koda Takumi K15 Preamp

[spiritofmusic]

Ok, my fault was a tad more heart stopping than that Lol. It's a good thing Zu drivers are tested to destruction before leaving the factory, this issue would have destroyed many other drivers.

 

[ashandger]

In case of interest to anyone, Absolute Sounds UK are now distributors for Koda products.

 

[LL21]

In case of interest to anyone, Absolute Sounds UK are now distributors for Koda products.

Yes! I began my investigations of Robert Koda over the summer, and was helped by a number of members here...and then in working to import a unit or even 2nd hand unit from overseas, my dealer found out that Absolute Sounds were about to become the distributors for Robert Koda, and so I became customer #1. Personally, it is good to have the coverage that Absolute Sounds provides in terms of importing, service and after-sales service, etc. Pedro of Absolute Sounds is a true audio maestro...the translation of the Japanese word 'Takumi' actually!

 

[CKKeung]

Audioexotics of Hong Kong held a Mid-Autumn Festival Concert 2020 yesterday at their Divin Lab showroom.

Robert Koda K-15EX preamp and Takumi K160 monos were used.

I didn't join but my frds who attended the show said that it was heavenly.
Share with you some photos :

 

[spiritofmusic]

What is that purple turntable? And is that a SAT tonearm on it? What's going on w the offset headshell?

And that following tt...running TWO Thales Statement arms? Gosh.

 

[CKKeung]

What is that purple turntable? And is that a SAT tonearm on it? What's going on w the offset headshell?

And that following tt...running TWO Thales Statement arms? Gosh.

That's a Da Vinci Lab Equilibrium turntable :
https://da-vinci-audio.com/equilibrium-eq

The tonearm on it was the Durand Tosca tonearm :
http://www.durand-tonearms.com/Tosca/thetosca.html

The second turntable which had got the Thales Statement tonearms was the Hartvig TT Evolution turntable :
http://hartvigaudio.com/products/hartvig-tt-evolution

 

[LL21]

Awesome stuff! CKK - do you know how they are placing the K15EX on top of the platform? In the photo the K15EX feet seem suspended in air, which means it is being placed on top of something.

The reason I ask is because I have put it on top of an HRS M3X shelf on top of the rack 3" birch ply...much better than rack shelf alone. However, when I put the HRS Nimbus couplers directly underneath the K15EX I discovered [surprisingly] it got 'thinner/less strong signal'. It felt to me like it was not sitting on the nimbus couplers securely, and so the whole chassis was not properly 'rooted' to the M3X shelf.

Sure enough, I removed the front 2 Nimbus Couplers, and believe it or not...the weight of the unit is so great in the back...the unit just stayed up (even though the front entire half of the unit was 'floating' in air...it did not fall forward.

Clearly the front feet were doing nothing, and all weight was on the back. So indeed, there was something off on the placement of the K15EX on top of the HRS feet.

So very curious as to how AE do it.

 

[CKKeung]

Awesome stuff! CKK - do you know how they are placing the K15EX on top of the platform? In the photo the K15EX feet seem suspended in air, which means it is being placed on top of something.

The reason I ask is because I have put it on top of an HRS M3X shelf on top of the rack 3" birch ply...much better than rack shelf alone. However, when I put the HRS Nimbus couplers directly underneath the K15EX I discovered [surprisingly] it got 'thinner/less strong signal'. It felt to me like it was not sitting on the nimbus couplers securely, and so the whole chassis was not properly 'rooted' to the M3X shelf.

Sure enough, I removed the front 2 Nimbus Couplers, and believe it or not...the weight of the unit is so great in the back...the unit just stayed up (even though the front entire half of the unit was 'floating' in air...it did not fall forward.

Clearly the front feet were doing nothing, and all weight was on the back. So indeed, there was something off on the placement of the K15EX on top of the HRS feet.

So very curious as to how AE do it.

Hi LL21,
That K-15EX was placed on a Pranawire Annapurna Super Platform :
https://www.lotusgroupusa.com/blog/shaken-and-stirred



Between the K-15EX and the platform were several Audio Replas crystal insulators but I am unsure of the exact model employed :.
https://www.audio-replas.com/insulator.html

 

[LL21]

Hi LL21,
That K-15EX was placed on a Pranawire Annapurna Super Platform :
https://www.lotusgroupusa.com/blog/shaken-and-stirred

View attachment 69736

Between the K-15EX and the platform were several Audio Replas crystal insulators but I ambunsure of the exact model employed :
https://www.audio-replas.com/insulator.html

Thank you! I am going to retry the loading of the K15EX on Nimbus Couplers again, but try to get the weight distribution so that there is more equalized pressure on the feet...I had originally used four feet and will try to drop it to 3 feet and see whether it should 2 in back and 1 front or vice versa.

 

[CKKeung]

Have you tried CMS Centerstage CS2 footers?
It's my favorite.

 

[LL21]

Thanks...I have heard great things about them. For the moment, I am trying to get the entire system settled in first. Robert Koda K15EX, then the return of the Gryphon from repairs...THEN finally calibrating the XLFs...and THEN probably finishing up what we started with Sablon on the final 2 Prince Oranges for the Zanden. And then possibly coming back to major subs. Somewhere in there we may just go back to isolation...

 

[BruceD]

Yes a veritable Aladdins cave-seems as if the Vertere has been superseded.

BD

 

[CKKeung]

Yes a veritable Aladdins cave-seems as if the Vertere has been superseded.
BD

I guess even though Audioexotics HK has 3 showrooms, they carry so many brands of turntables and can't display/demo all of them together.

Vertere is IMHO still their most musical brand.

 

[nickif]

Thanks...I have heard great things about them. For the moment, I am trying to get the entire system settled in first. Robert Koda K15EX, then the return of the Gryphon from repairs...THEN finally calibrating the XLFs...and THEN probably finishing up what we started with Sablon on the final 2 Prince Oranges for the Zanden. And then possibly coming back to major subs. Somewhere in there we may just go back to isolation...

I’m using 4 Arya Revopods under my K15EX and they work perfectly for your reference.

 

[LL21]

I’m using 4 Arya Revopods under my K15EX and they work perfectly for your reference.

Thanks and good to know. Where exactly do you have them placed underneath? Again, when I tried 4...i could literally remove the front 2...and the entire unit stayed up (ie, the front half of the entire unit was suspended in air...because I think the vast majority of the weight is in the back. Which meant that the unit was 'free' to move around on those 2 back footers.

I am trying to figure out where to put the 4 footers (or event 3) so that the unit is more solidly on top of all of the footers.

 

[nickif]

Thanks and good to know. Where exactly do you have them placed underneath? Again, when I tried 4...i could literally remove the front 2...and the entire unit stayed up (ie, the front half of the entire unit was suspended in air...because I think the vast majority of the weight is in the back. Which meant that the unit was 'free' to move around on those 2 back footers.

I am trying to figure out where to put the 4 footers (or event 3) so that the unit is more solidly on top of all of the footers.

I just put them besides the original feet. Height is adjustable on Revopods so no problem but I used CMS before no issue at all. I guess your powercord is really heavy weight?

 

[spiritofmusic]

Nickif, glad you're loving the Revopods. I have them under my Zus speakers replacing three alternatives as footers...stock spikes, Symposium Rollerblocks, bespoke Lead feet...and easily beating direct comparison w IsoAcoustics Gaias footers.

A totally positive addition to my system, one of my more positive tweaks experiments.

 

[nickif]

Nickif, glad you're loving the Revopods. I have them under my Zus speakers replacing three alternatives as footers...stock spikes, Symposium Rollerblocks, bespoke Lead feet...and easily beating direct comparison w IsoAcoustics Gaias footers.

A totally positive addition to my statement, one of my more positive tweaks experiments.

Fully agreed, I’m using Revopods under my speakers and subs as well, however, until you put wellfloat delta underneath the revapods you’d never know what kind of bass your speakers are capable of reproducing. Highly recommended.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I have seen those on the AE forum. Very little info online, certainly nothing on prices/sources.

 

[LL21]

I just put them besides the original feet. Height is adjustable on Revopods so no problem but I used CMS before no issue at all. I guess your powercord is really heavy weight?

Thank you. I am not really sure...all I know is when I put the K15EX on the 4 HRS Nimbus Couplers...the sound signal seemed 'weaker'...usually a sign of instability of the component.

I then removed the front 2 Nimbus Couplers expecting to have the unit tilt down toward me...and it just stayed up! I then realized exactly how much weight is in the back of the unit. The powercable is definitely not THAT heavy!

I may try a different footer configuration later. For now, just enjoying!

If by any chance, you could indicate WHERE you put the footers underneath your K15EX, that would be really great.