Author Topic: Khozmo has landed...  (Read 695 times)

Offline P.I.

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Khozmo has landed...
« on: February 21, 2024, 05:13:13 PM »
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...
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Offline Folsom

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2024, 11:21:06 AM »
Damn shippers.

I am pretty curious about their remote system and how it works.

Offline P.I.

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2024, 12:42:32 PM »
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.
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Offline Folsom

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2024, 07:20:26 PM »
 8)

Offline StereoNut

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2024, 11:50:14 AM »
Good luck with it! Keep us posted as it breaks in.

SN
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Offline James Edward

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2024, 06:27:43 AM »
Good luck with it! Keep us posted as it breaks in.

SN
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Offline dflee

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #6 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
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Offline P.I.

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2024, 06:15:09 PM »
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...
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Offline P.I.

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2024, 02:00:31 PM »
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/             
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Offline Nick B

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2024, 05:35:26 PM »
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 🎶
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Offline steve

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #10 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
« Last Edit: March 03, 2024, 08:39:13 AM by steve »
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Offline P.I.

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2024, 12:27:55 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:

"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." - Hilmar von Campe

Offline Folsom

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #12 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.

Offline P.I.

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2024, 04:06:07 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:
"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument." - Hilmar von Campe

Offline steve

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Re: Khozmo has landed...
« Reply #14 on: March 05, 2024, 08:46:23 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
« Last Edit: March 05, 2024, 08:49:08 PM by steve »
Steve Sammet (Owner, Electron Eng, SAS Audio Labs, Ret)
SAS "V" 39pf/m 6N copper ICs,
SAS Test Phono Stage
Acutex 320 STR Mov Iron Cart
SAS 11A Perfect Tube Preamp
SAS 25 W Ref Triode/UL Monoblocks
2 way Floor Standing Test Speakers