My Khozmo passive/active pre got here today, not without issues :shock: UPS does it again. The pre was packed good enough fpr interstellar travel, but somehow the discreet op amp got dislodged from the DIP rocket. It is fairly large with the heatsinks, etc. There was a small bit of clear silicone seal that was supposed to hold it in place, but the gorillas saw to it that that wasn't sufficient. The pins on the header sections were bent, but I got them straightened.
The workmanship is quite good, especially at this pricepoint. I don't see how it is built at this price. The encoder/resistor unit used for ladder volume control is a work of art. As a bonus, it was shipped with AMRG resistors, not the AMRT's 👍🏼
Breaking it in now...
Damn shippers.
I am pretty curious about their remote system and how it works.
Quote from: Folsom on February 22, 2024, 11:21:06 AM
Damn shippers.
I am pretty curious about their remote system and how it works.
The functionality of the remote itself is great. The stepped attenuator is a relay latched rotary encoder. I'll try to post some pictures after I get a new picture host.
8)
Good luck with it! Keep us posted as it breaks in.
SN
Quote from: StereoNut on February 23, 2024, 11:50:14 AM
Good luck with it! Keep us posted as it breaks in.
SN
https://youtu.be/QuoKNZjr8_U
It's Alive! It's Alive!
Welcome back SN!
Alright P.I.:
For us (me) trying to figure out what you be talkin about cause
after perusing the web site am befuddled. What specifically did you
purchase and what the heck is a passive/active pre? Isn't that kind of
a contradictory term. Lucy (P.I.), you has some esplainin to do.
Nit
Quote from: dflee on February 24, 2024, 10:59:29 AM
Alright P.I.:
For us (me) trying to figure out what you be talkin about cause
after perusing the web site am befuddled. What specifically did you
purchase and what the heck is a passive/active pre? Isn't that kind of
a contradictory term. Lucy (P.I.), you has some esplainin to do.
Nit
I'll try to post pics tomorrow...
Quote from: P.I. on February 24, 2024, 06:15:09 PM
Quote from: dflee on February 24, 2024, 10:59:29 AM
Alright P.I.:
For us (me) trying to figure out what you be talkin about cause
after perusing the web site am befuddled. What specifically did you
purchase and what the heck is a passive/active pre? Isn't that kind of
a contradictory term. Lucy (P.I.), you has some esplainin to do.
Nit
I'll try to post pics tomorrow...
Screw posting pictures here! I am too stupid to figure it out. :shock:
The Khozmo is a 2-channel 64-step ladder attenuator. At any given setting there is a voltage divider that only has 2 extremely low noise resistors in the signal path. Totally different from a potentiometer that is a varaible resistor with a sketchy noise profile. It has no gain. Passive devices require low capacitance loads (interconnects) to avoid rolling off highs.
At the flip of a switch, I can chose an active buffer made up of discreet components with much better performance from a normal op amp. It 6dB gain, and is capable of driving just about any kind of interconnect capacitance. It will also drive any type of amplifier input impedance normally encountered.
https://khozmo.com/product/stereo-with-input-selector/
Here is the discreet op-amp used:
https://audiofool.reviews/2019/10/08/staccato-discrete-opamps/
Rather than do a new post, I'll join the thread here as I recently bought a used, but ordered at the end of 2023, Hattor Big dual mono active/passive preamp. It has the AMRG resistors and New Class D opamp. Top of the line stuff based on my limited knowledge of the techie stuff. The remote controls every function. It's solid and beautifully made like the main chassis and smaller, external power supply. My guess is very limited use on this piece and it's sounding a bit better each day.
As is usual for me, I just play music and let my brain assimilate things over time. The Khozmo attenuator is more revealing than the Alps Blue Velevt pot in my beloved Supratek Chardonnay tube preamp. The Chardonnay has been under the weather for a couple of months now, first with a silent left channel and now with both channels being mum. It is under warranty, but there's a part of me that wants to have a Khozmo 64 step attenuator installed. I have yet to find a very good tech who'll look at it. And yes, that would wipe out future warranty service. So I'm just pondering at the moment and continuing to appreciate this very fine Hattor.
The Hattor sounds, full, rich, natural, very revealing, but not quite as airy and holographic as the Supratek. But it's an apples and oranges comparison as I'm not A/Bing the same music. Arek at Khozmo/Hattor is a sole proprietor and also makes a tube buffer to mate with the Hattor Big. That would really be fun to listen to as well.
I'm listening without subs and just keeping things as simple as possible for right now 🎶
Sorry about the bad fortune Dave.
When I started business in the latter 90s, I tried ups, had terrible problems. FedEx was a little better.
I tried DHL and never had a problem. Then DHL basically stopped service in the USA, except under
certain conditions.
Went back to FedEx, more trouble, and they still owe me $500.
Finally I went to the postal service. I have not had any problems, but a long time ago, I had a problem
and they made good within a couple of weeks.
steve
Quote from: steve on March 02, 2024, 09:01:02 PM
Sorry about the bad fortune Dave.
When I started business in the latter 90s, I tried ups, had terrible problems. FedEx was a little better.
I tried DHL and never had a problem. Then DHL basically stopped service in the USA, except under
certain conditions.
Went back to FedEx, more trouble, and they still owe me $500.
Finally I went to the postal service. I have not had any problems, but a long time ago, I had a problem
and they made good within a couple of weeks.
steve
The Khozmo came via DHL. The box and packing were of the highest quality. The issue was inertial mass overcoming a tiny - read that as should have been bigger or mechanically fixed - dab of silicone seal.
I'm quite impressed with the Khozmo in terms of quality and performance! :thumb:
Good to read these things. They are high on the list for preamp attenutaors for me, for commercial use.
Hoping to hear if it'll be complimentary with the recipe you may play with.
Quote from: Folsom on March 04, 2024, 01:52:31 PM
Good to read these things. They are high on the list for preamp attenutaors for me, for commercial use.
Hoping to hear if it'll be complimentary with the recipe you may play with.
Mw, too! :thumb:
Quote from: P.I. on March 04, 2024, 12:27:55 PM
Quote from: steve on March 02, 2024, 09:01:02 PM
Sorry about the bad fortune Dave.
When I started business in the latter 90s, I tried ups, had terrible problems. FedEx was a little better.
I tried DHL and never had a problem. Then DHL basically stopped service in the USA, except under
certain conditions.
Went back to FedEx, more trouble, and they still owe me $500.
Finally I went to the postal service. I have not had any problems, but a long time ago, I had a problem
and they made good within a couple of weeks.
steve
The Khozmo came via DHL. The box and packing were of the highest quality. The issue was inertial mass overcoming a tiny - read that as should have been bigger or mechanically fixed - dab of silicone seal.
I'm quite impressed with the Khozmo in terms of quality and performance! :thumb:
I am confused. Your first post states "UPS does it again" but no mention of DHL.
Anyway, I was told decades ago that in Chitown, a package can literally drop 50 feet at a UPS facility,
so inertia is certainly a consideration. Don't know about the other shippers.
Glad to read the performance was impressive and you enjoy it.
cheers
steve
Quote from: steve on March 05, 2024, 08:46:23 PM
Quote from: P.I. on March 04, 2024, 12:27:55 PM
Quote from: steve on March 02, 2024, 09:01:02 PM
Sorry about the bad fortune Dave.
When I started business in the latter 90s, I tried ups, had terrible problems. FedEx was a little better.
I tried DHL and never had a problem. Then DHL basically stopped service in the USA, except under
certain conditions.
Went back to FedEx, more trouble, and they still owe me $500.
Finally I went to the postal service. I have not had any problems, but a long time ago, I had a problem
and they made good within a couple of weeks.
steve
The Khozmo came via DHL. The box and packing were of the highest quality. The issue was inertial mass overcoming a tiny - read that as should have been bigger or mechanically fixed - dab of silicone seal.
I'm quite impressed with the Khozmo in terms of quality and performance! :thumb:
I am confused. Your first post states "UPS does it again" but no mention of DHL.
Anyway, I was told decades ago that in Chitown, a package can literally drop 50 feet at a UPS facility,
so inertia is certainly a consideration. Don't know about the other shippers.
Glad to read the performance was impressive and you enjoy it.
cheers
steve
My bad. The shipping invoice from Spain was DHL. The delivery to me was UPS. I have no idea about their corporate cross-pollination. DHL used to be delivered by USPS, but???
My friend Greg did a Christmas gig with UPS and he said boxes falling off of the conveyor was common. :shock:
Follow-up on the Khozmo preamp.
In either passive or active mode it is dead quiet. Putting a SP meter 4" away from a tweeter produced no increase in noise when powered on, vs powered up.
Passive: sweet, honest, mellow, intimate and relaxed
Stocatto op amp: fast, incredible punch with a huge soundstage, LF detail and pitch definition. More forward, in a good way. Detail retrieval is exemplary.
It may be the most dynamic, transparent pre I've ever had.
Me likee. :thumb:
Quote from: P.I. on May 27, 2024, 07:21:27 PM
Follow-up on the Khozmo preamp.
In either passive or active mode it is dead quiet. Putting a SP meter 4" away from a tweeter produced no increase in noise when powered on, vs powered up.
Passive: sweet, honest, mellow, intimate and relaxed
Stocatto op amp: fast, incredible punch with a huge soundstage, LF detail and pitch definition. More forward, in a good way. Detail retrieval is exemplary.
It may be the most dynamic, transparent pre I've ever had.
Me likee. :thumb:
Glad to hear your comments. As I mentioned previously, I had found a slightly used Khozmo/Hattor Big preamp on Audiomart with the New ClassD opamp and AMRG Amtrans resistors and it's an amazing preamp. How lucky I am to have this Hattor and the Supratek Chardonnay tube preamp! Oh, Hattor also makes a Tube Active Stage version which uses the ECC82/12AU7/5963 tubes and it is supposedly better per designer Arek and a user comment on Audiogon. That particular user commented that of 20 preamps he's tried, only the Steve McCormack VRE 1C preamp is better. I am not familiar enough with tubes to comment whether or not the 12AU7 is an outstanding tube for this application.
Quote from: Nick B on May 27, 2024, 08:17:25 PM
Quote from: P.I. on May 27, 2024, 07:21:27 PM
Follow-up on the Khozmo preamp.
In either passive or active mode it is dead quiet. Putting a SP meter 4" away from a tweeter produced no increase in noise when powered on, vs powered up.
Passive: sweet, honest, mellow, intimate and relaxed
Stocatto op amp: fast, incredible punch with a huge soundstage, LF detail and pitch definition. More forward, in a good way. Detail retrieval is exemplary.
It may be the most dynamic, transparent pre I've ever had.
Me likee. :thumb:
Glad to hear your comments. As I mentioned previously, I had found a slightly used Khozmo/Hattor Big preamp on Audiomart with the New ClassD opamp and AMRG Amtrans resistors and it's an amazing preamp. How lucky I am to have this Hattor and the Supratek Chardonnay tube preamp! Oh, Hattor also makes a Tube Active Stage version which uses the ECC82/12AU7/5963 tubes and it is supposedly better per designer Arek and a user comment on Audiogon. That particular user commented that of 20 preamps he's tried, only the Steve McCormack VRE 1C preamp is better. I am not familiar enough with tubes to comment whether or not the 12AU7 is an outstanding tube for this application.
Did you ever get your Supratek Chardonnay repaired? If so, how does it stack up against the Khozmo?
And Dave... "the most dynamic and transparent" - that's a bold statement!
Quote from: S Clark on May 28, 2024, 03:58:21 PM
Quote from: Nick B on May 27, 2024, 08:17:25 PM
Quote from: P.I. on May 27, 2024, 07:21:27 PM
Follow-up on the Khozmo preamp.
In either passive or active mode it is dead quiet. Putting a SP meter 4" away from a tweeter produced no increase in noise when powered on, vs powered up.
Passive: sweet, honest, mellow, intimate and relaxed
Stocatto op amp: fast, incredible punch with a huge soundstage, LF detail and pitch definition. More forward, in a good way. Detail retrieval is exemplary.
It may be the most dynamic, transparent pre I've ever had.
Me likee. :thumb:
Glad to hear your comments. As I mentioned previously, I had found a slightly used Khozmo/Hattor Big preamp on Audiomart with the New ClassD opamp and AMRG Amtrans resistors and it's an amazing preamp. How lucky I am to have this Hattor and the Supratek Chardonnay tube preamp! Oh, Hattor also makes a Tube Active Stage version which uses the ECC82/12AU7/5963 tubes and it is supposedly better per designer Arek and a user comment on Audiogon. That particular user commented that of 20 preamps he's tried, only the Steve McCormack VRE 1C preamp is better. I am not familiar enough with tubes to comment whether or not the 12AU7 is an outstanding tube for this application.
Did you ever get your Supratek Chardonnay repaired? If so, how does it stack up against the Khozmo?
And Dave... "the most dynamic and transparent" - that's a bold statement!
The Supratek had a bad tube and the Rythmik sub a bad cap or two. The Supratek is functioning, but I've been using the Hattor because it is so good and especially at revealing additional detail. In a perfect world, I'd like to have a Khozmo attenuator put in the Supratek rather than the Alps pot and have the power supply looked at and improved if possible. I should put the Supratek back in one of these days. But I've been putting a lot of hours on new power cords and a new Holo Cyan2 dac which is a terrific dac and great value.
What you are describing as a wish item sounds a lot like Don Sachs and Lynn Olson's new preamp which is being sold through Spatial. I've been tempted but for now i think I have enough preamps.
Quote from: Jack on May 28, 2024, 06:09:24 PM
What you are describing as a wish item sounds a lot like Don Sachs and Lynn Olson's new preamp which is being sold through Spatial. I've been tempted but for now i think I have enough preamps.
I went to the Spatial site as soon as I saw your post and the stock unit is listed for $5495. That's actually a little bit cheaper than my guess. I'd love to hear Steve McCormack's VRE preamp that he humbly described to me some years ago as being the best he's ever heard. But a product like that is way out of my price range.
I'm curious but I've got to finish the move and clear out even more of the "spares' than i have so far. Plus I want to see how it actually works out "in the field" for a while as I never try to place to much in the early adopters unless they are people I know and their equipment history. That applies particularly to reports on Audiogon. Don's last production model and the Supratek's give me the tube flavor while the Holo Serene KTE gives me a dose of what you guys are getting with the Khozmo.
Quote from: Jack on May 28, 2024, 06:54:22 PM
I'm curious but I've got to finish the move and clear out even more of the "spares' than i have so far. Plus I want to see how it actually works out "in the field" for a while as I never try to place to much in the early adopters unless they are people I know and their equipment history. That applies particularly to reports on Audiogon. Don's last production model and the Supratek's give me the tube flavor while the Holo Serene KTE gives me a dose of what you guys are getting with the Khozmo.
Forgot that you had the Holo Serene. I am very impressed by my Holo Red streamer and Holo Cyan2 dac. What is really intriguing is that Khozmo/Hattor tube unit. Do you have an opinion about the 12au7 tube and in a preamp application?
Quote from: S Clark on May 28, 2024, 03:58:21 PM
And Dave... "the most dynamic and transparent" - that's a bold statement!
Remember that I have 76 year old ears. Having said this, I have never had a preamp that did not "tickle" tweeters at high volumes. The Khozmo is
silent.
My B&K only registered my breathing and ambient noise floor. When the pre was turned on, I could not see or hear any increase in SPL.
Dynamics are startling and immediate with the Staccato op amp, much less so in passive mode. The Staccato is immediate, but without the lower midrange bump of others and the highs are pristine, without any harshness.
As a guy that prefers tube pres, I'm incredibly happy with the lack of coloration that often comes as part of that package.
YMMV, cuz' I'm happy.
Sound like it's the real deal... and not stupid expensive from what I can tell. If my Dodd ever dies, the Khozmo looks like a good option.
Quote from: S Clark on May 29, 2024, 10:54:00 AM
Sound like it's the real deal... and not stupid expensive from what I can tell. If my Dodd ever dies, the Khozmo looks like a good option.
It's the real deal and around $2,000 each for the tube version and passive with the NewClassD opamp. I'm told that Arek will mix and match as to components in the simpler Khozmo chassis vs the more expensive Hattor chassis. The remote control is quite nice and controls many functions.
Quote from: S Clark on May 29, 2024, 10:54:00 AM
Sound like it's the real deal... and not stupid expensive from what I can tell. If my Dodd ever dies, the Khozmo looks like a good option.
That is exactly what I did. My Dodd with the Reflektor 6H(N)30 is long in the tooth and I'm out with battery power these days. With our backs, the light weight of gear is becoming a real thing :thumb: