Robert Koda's Takumi MC One Reference Phono Stage
I am so touched that Robert had made extra effort to finish his mastery creation – Takumi MC One – to grace the opening of AE’s 2nd showroom (very soon). Robert has spent the past 8 years to completely rethink the whole process of “reverse equalization”. The aim is to execute the equalization process with novel engineering ideas to eliminate distortion as much as possible. Since the birth of vinyl, there are only two approaches to do it (other than the digital approach). Robert has invented the 3rd approach, several patents pending. It is now connected at AE with Vetere’s reference analog system
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INTERVIEW with ROBERT KODA on the development of Takumi MC ONE.
1. What is wrong with conventional RIAA equalization?
There is nothing wrong with RIAA. The challenge is how to apply the reverse equalization as is required. Since the beginning of vinyl, there are only two ways to do it in the analog domain. One is called “passive RIAA” primarily used by many tube electronics manufacturers. Then there is another variation of passive RIAA called “LCR”. Under this approach, the high frequencies are attenuated by 100X at 20khz and 10X at 1khz during the amplification process. This is also known as the “brute force” approach. Another way is the “Active RIAA” approach, which uses tremendous amount of negative feedback in the vicinity of 40db to 60db.
For a number of technical reasons, I reject both methodologies. I have successfully developed a new approach. Since I am waiting for patent protection, I would not disclose the technology at this point. Suffice to say, I do not need to attenuate 20khz by 100 times thereby avoiding many problems. I do not need to use 40-60db of negative feedbacks thereby avoiding another set of problems.
3. Why is the internal voltage of MC One much higher than the norm?
4. Did you measure the overall signal to noise level?
The actual noise level is best specified as what we call "equivalent input noise" or EIN in short. The lower is the number the better is the sonic result. MC One is about 0.0055 micro volts. In my opinion, EIN matters more than the Signal to Noise ratio (S/N ratio). Unless the noise is objectionably high, otherwise the measurement of S/N ratio does not contribute too much to the overall sound quality. The measurement of a "dynamic noise floor" matters more but this is not easy to measure.
5. What are other unique technical merits of the Takumi MC One?
Overloading the Takumi MC one is virtually impossible. If one uses a 0.1mv cartridge, then 14dB more gain is required than a 0.5mV cartridge. Bear in mind that 0.1mv is specified at 1kHz. By 20khz, the output is ten times more. Additionally surface noises alongside dirt/scratches /record wear and tear/stylus resonance are often located around 40khz generating massive ultra sonic energy. If the phono stage is to be overloaded by such, they will penetrate into the audio band thru an inter-modulation process that is detrimental to sound quality. It is pretty much universally known that the avoidance of overloading (especially in the high frequency area where phono stage often falls short) is particularly important.
To me, I think the most noticeable character of this super phono is, it gives u very very very solid picture of music. If you can hear the silhouette of performers and instruments with the Atlantis and Jinpu, you can hear the 8k image of the performance with MC One. The sound is extremely direct, and yet not a bit harsh. You can identify clearly the position of each instrument in an orchestra. The depth extends far deeper, and all the instruments from the front to the very back are solidly presented. The sounds are very focused that u can feel the singer kneel down and move up when singing.
The presentation of mid range when comparing with Jinpu and Atlantis has lesser "moisture" feelings. But it seems this can be dealt with my adjusting gain and change of cables.
In a word, this gives you another type of extreme sound you can't experience elsewhere.
Actually, I haven't visit AE showroom for almost half a year. But when I know this super phono is here combo with 宙光+長空，I come right a way next afternoon. Haven't really feel excited for a long time. Cause I somehow have a lot of expectation from this super phono. And the most important thing is, this is the first time to listen a non digital phono in AE. I preferred non digital in vinyl side, as Chris know me well. So invited me to visit him.
One more thing, it is paired with a special Madake cartridge. I am lucky that I owned one. Hehehe.
So first impression, I asked Chris, what happen to the sound stage in AE, so much improved. Every instrument is accurately located, the volume of each instrument are well rendering, will not overwhelming like before.
As I mentioned before in this forum, Horn speaker is not my cup of tea, the attack is too direct for me, eventhough I appreciate the music in AE.
He told me the sound stage is from the phono. And I told him this is the first time to feel AE's is not " Showing off" type of music. comfortable. Have taste this time. 好有文化. Like a very humble and well educated musician with very skilled performing in front of me. I listened straight for two hours not feeling tire in AE is something for me. But I told Chris I cannot tell whether this is from Madake or from this super phono. To understand this phono better, I need to install my Madake first. After I listened this two days, I can give a better judgement to this amazing phono. I concurred romanovym's comment. This phono has a very accurate sound stage and the positioning of the instruments is very exact. Nothing added nor deduced. But very accurate and no error type of rendering the music. Give distance and separation to every instruments. I am using Lyra connoisseur 4.3 at the moment. So I compared both. MC one gives more accurate and rendering the music with very define manner than mine. This is what a phono should do, what else we can ask for. Very well done. As my expectation, this is the best phono so far I know. Please make appointment to visit. A very different AE sound as we know before.
The 文化 part actually from Madake. I will write another review on it later. Still in the process of loosing up the cartridge.
Maybe I'm wrong and then I lift my hat :-) But as mentioned, cool design.
I use a transformer coupled JFet-Phono with LCR-RIAA and a voltage gain - for MM-cartridges - around 52dB. For MC an Step-up-transformer is used.
Anymore listening impressions? Guessing it's fairly well broken in now...
Robert's MC One conveys music on the vinyl media in a very direct manner. Energy reaches you. Transient responses captivate you. Spatial energy engulfs you. It is not the "soulful mid range" type. I have to repeat the sound is very direct and therefore natural. It has a lot to do with his work on the special equalisation curve. I hear so much energy and attack (including the high frequency attack). The overall experience is very lively.
Vinyl playback, in my humble view, is full of distortions. Regardless of how expensive and meticulously built a cartridge is made of, it is hand built like all the exotic watches and each and every cartridge made would have a, however slightest, difference from the other one. Whilst I have no doubt that the precision of some super exotic cartridges can attain the same or even higher level than those watches, the gradual deterioration of the precision will nonetheless surface over time when the cartridge is mechanically in contact with the vinyl records with 2 or 3 equilibrium points including the tonearm. In my limited knowledge on physics, the stress on the tip of the cartridge is enormous while serving the purpose of the collecting the recorded signal on the imbalanced left and right sides of the grooves. According to some research, the distortion on vinyl playback starts at 2khz across the frequency spectrum compared to CD playback.
Phonostage amplification is another source of distortion when the signal picked up will be amplified 1000 times. RIAA curves adjustment is all about an attempt to rectify such distortion at this amplification stage in the analog domain. Javier of Wadax has addressed such adjustment in the digital domain with flying colors. Dietmar, under the published international RIAA standards, has also achieved a technological height in distortion mitigation. I read several times the interview summary in this thread and tried to seek more details from PT on what are those ‘patent-to-be’ technological breakthrough leading to the invention of MC-1? The phrase, ‘Active RIAA equilization’ keeps haunting me for weeks until last weekend when I visited to the AE showroom. Obviously it is still haunting me from a technical explanation standpoint, however the resulting performance that MC-1 delivers is unanimously clear to me.
I guess I don’t have to repeat the comments that other fellow AE members have shared in this thread which I cannot agree more on every single one of them. What MC-1 makes a difference to me is that it makes me feel all my previous phono experience has an explicit process of ‘equalization’ with some level of compromise leading to colorations of all sort, but obviously to different extents thus determining the characters of the playback. MC-1 is so transparent and un-characteristic that one can experience a closer reach of the truest musical articulations molded on the grooves of the vinyl records. Are there still distortions on vinyl playback? Yes indeed. Is it a big ‘Yes’ under the signal transmission via the Madeke Snakewood cartridge, Vertere Reference tonearm on Stage 1 vibration platform on SRA Craz rack going thru MC-1, I doubt it even under the strictest measurement in Dietmar’s laboratory!
Robert, my salute to you on a great product delivered! Look forward to learning more about the creative breakthrough that you have made! I learnt from PT that you have reserved the serial 001 for Marvel. Thank you!
Marvel
Dear Marvel, Azzurri and Audio Exotic forum friends,
The MC-One has brought great pleasure to my wife and I as we explore music together every night.
But this is only half the pleasure! Knowing this work is being enjoyed in other homes across the world is invigorating and intensely rewarding.
Your comments, reviews and deep understanding of the art of music and audio are greatly appreciated.
With sincere thanks and very best wishes for 2017,
Robert