Robert Koda Takumi K-10 preamplifier test and review

[Matej Isak]

Hi guys. My first post here:

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/01/robert-koda-takumi-k-10-preamplifier.html



Hope everything about post is according to rules.

Best

Matej

Owner & writer:
Mono & Stereo ultra high-end audio magazine

www.monoandstereo.com

 

[LL21]

i have spoken with a few people who own this one...i have heard great things about it. I am told superbly well made, balanced, extreme detail and extreme purity of tonality in one. anyone heard this?

 

[flez007]

Hi guys. My first post here:

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/01/robert-koda-takumi-k-10-preamplifier.html

View attachment 7786

Hope everything about post is according to rules.

Best

Matej

As general rules show clearly, you can freely post what you want related to the forums, just include any disclaimer you feel is appropiate for the readers to be aware of. (eg: distributor, manufacturer, etc)

 

[treitz3]

Hello, Matej Isak and I'd like to offer you a warm welcome to the What's Best Forum. Looks like you have a very nice system that would offer hours upon hours of listening bliss. Just FYI...I'm unsure why your signature did not show up on the first post, but it has been added.

Tom

 

[steve williams]

Hello, Matej Isak and I'd like to offer you a warm welcome to the What's Best Forum. Looks like you have a very nice system that would offer hours upon hours of listening bliss. Just FYI...I'm unsure why your signature did not show up on the first post, but it has been added.

Tom

welcome also Matej

Thanks for following our TOS and putting that info in your signature line

 

[flez007]

This preamp looks awesome! I went thru all the review (nicely done) and the comparison to the Shindo says a lot. The volume knob is a piece of art itself! Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Matej Isak]

i have spoken with a few people who own this one...i have heard great things about it. I am told superbly well made, balanced, extreme detail and extreme purity of tonality in one. anyone heard this?

Hi lloydelee21. I'm having it over here for an extended time. It will be a reference preamplifier for upcoming reviews. As stated in my review, it's really something special. Feels like long forgotten art being brought again to high-end .

 

[Matej Isak]

This preamp looks awesome! I went thru all the review (nicely done) and the comparison to the Shindo says a lot. The volume knob is a piece of art itself! Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks flez007. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, it's different from Shindo. I'm tube guy by hearth, but K-10 "tricked" me with its natural transparency and attributes of tubes.

 

[Matej Isak]

welcome also Matej

Thanks for following our TOS and putting that info in your signature line

Hi Steve. Thanks for nice welcome.

 

[Matej Isak]

Hello, Matej Isak and I'd like to offer you a warm welcome to the What's Best Forum. Looks like you have a very nice system that would offer hours upon hours of listening bliss. Just FYI...I'm unsure why your signature did not show up on the first post, but it has been added.

Tom

Hi Tom,

I added signature few minutes later, as I missed it in first run . As a reviewer I'm on constant rotation of gear, but some do stay . ANd thanks for nice-warm welcome.

 

[LL21]

Hi lloydelee21. I'm having it over here for an extended time. It will be a reference preamplifier for upcoming reviews. As stated in my review, it's really something special. Feels like long forgotten art being brought again to high-end .

Great stuff...enjoy! Have you also heard the K70 Takumi amp?

 

[Matej Isak]

Great stuff...enjoy! Have you also heard the K70 Takumi amp?

Not yet, but's coming in few months for a review.

 

[Matej Isak]

i have spoken with a few people who own this one...i have heard great things about it. I am told superbly well made, balanced, extreme detail and extreme purity of tonality in one. anyone heard this?

Yes, you described it greatly. Timbre, tonality, sense of acoustic space, refined but not to pushy as it can be on some upper echelon preamplifiers. It feels like transparency redefined. I'm around high-end for over 20 years and along Kondo and very few others (different approach) Robert Koda address my inner urge about how high-end and ultra high-end products should sound and be designed.

 

[andromedaaudio]

I agree with much , the nicest designs in my opinion are from the late nineties early 2000 , is the high end moving in circles ??
Its of course more or less the same technique from 40 years ago, the mike records , then it gets stored , its played /amplified then merely via a voicecoil membrane box system .
It can only be perfected to a certain level , and i think that level has been reached by more than a few.

 

[LL21]

Yes, you described it greatly. Timbre, tonality, sense of acoustic space, refined but not to pushy as it can be on some upper echelon preamplifiers. It feels like transparency redefined. I'm around high-end for over 20 years and along Kondo and very few others (different approach) Robert Koda address my inner urge about how high-end and ultra high-end products should sound and be designed.

interesting...what other designers do you like? Tsuda (concert fidelity), Yamada (Zanden), Kondo, Others?

 

[Matej Isak]

I agree with much , the nicest designs in my opinion are from the late nineties early 2000 , is the high end moving in circles ??
Its of course more or less the same technique from 40 years ago, the mike records , then it gets stored , its played /amplified then merely via a voicecoil membrane box system .
It can only be perfected to a certain level , and i think that level has been reached by more than a few.

Yep, it seems late 80's and early 90's are in revival . Last week i listened to Voice of theatre speakers. Man.... this smokes probably more then 90 % of current offerings. We discussed with the owner, how after all those years we haven't really come far... When left Western Electrics almost 300 people were responsible for the speaker design. Now imagine having that much of staff in current times...

 

[Matej Isak]

interesting...what other designers do you like? Tsuda (concert fidelity), Yamada (Zanden), Kondo, Others?

I heard Concert Fidelity briefly, but it's coming in for a review in month or two. Kondo is always great, perhaps some of the older designs, but Overture is supposed to be great also (also coming in for a review). I like Mactone, some of Burmester stuff (I know ), Tom Evans is great, Lampizator, LessLoss stuff, etc. It often depends on the system approach. There are many ways to build a well balanced system.

 

[jfrech]

Hi guys. My first post here:

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/01/robert-koda-takumi-k-10-preamplifier.html

View attachment 7786

Hope everything about post is according to rules.

Best

Matej

Owner & writer:
Mono & Stereo ultra high-end audio magazine

www.monoandstereo.com

Hi welcome...I for one think this is one of the better forums. I read your article (thanks) the biggest issue I see is how can one demo this...it's very hard to drop this kind of money (or any money) on just a great review...any guidance here? Does the mfg offer any help for folks want to consider this preamp?

 

[steve williams]

I see you left out MSRP of this preamp. Can you share the price of this preamp with us

 

[jfrech]

I see you left out MSRP of this preamp. Can you share the price of this preamp with us

I think MSRP is 31k in the USA...