DISCLAIMER: Cozoy provided me with the TAKT C in return for my honest opinion. I am not personally affiliated with the company in any way, nor do I receive any monetary rewards for a positive evaluation. I’d like to thank Cozoy for their kindness and support. The review is as follows.
Cozoy is a brand who’ve made their name on compact, impeccably-built and powerful-sounding DAC/amp units – pocket rockets, if you will. I first caught wind of the Hong-Kong-based manufacturer when their AEGIS was making the rounds on Singapore’s enthusiast scene. They then enjoyed further successes with the REI and the more recent TAKT. Uniting these three were sleek aesthetics, stunning builds and clean sonics, and the one we’re looking at here is no different. The TAKT C is an optimisation of Cozoy’s 2017 DAC/amp with the Type-C USB standard; a continued refinement of all they do best.
Cozoy TAKT C
- DAC chip: ESS Technology SABRE9018Q2C SABRE32 Reference DAC
- Available input: USB-C
- Available output: 3.5mm stereo jack
- Sample rate support: Up to PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256
- Headphone amp output power: 1.5V RMS @ 32Ω
- Key feature(s) (if any): CNC’ed 6063 aluminium alloy chassis
- Price: $115
- Website: www.cozoyaudio.com
Packaging and Build
The TAKT C’s packaging channels the pristine, modern aesthetics of – say – Apple; clean, bright-white and minimalist with no more than a portrait of the product and a bit of grey text on the front. Personally, I’m a fan of this scheme, and Cozoy have executed it brilliantly here. Lifting the lid, you’ll find the TAKT C sat within a foam cut-out, as well as a brief, bilingual user’s manual in English and Mandarin. Overall, it’s a very neat package that marries its simplicity with precise execution.
The TAKT C itself is exquisitely built. A focal point in Cozoy’s marketing is this device’s CNC-milled, 6063 aluminium alloy chassis, and it’s rightfully so. From the precision of the grooves, to the construction of it all, to the finishing, this TAKT C’s metal shell is absolutely gorgeous. There’s neither an edge unpolished nor a piece not flush throughout the entire thing, and – at an asking price of $115, especially – this is an absolutely stunning achievement. Kudos to Cozoy for their efforts.
The chassis sports a beautiful anodised finish, accented by a touch of gloss on the Play/Pause button, as well as a crisply engraved Cozoy logo below. The former is then echoed on the USB-C plug, which I think is a great touch of continuity. My only gripe when it comes to the build is the cable. Again, the off-white rubber jacketing is very Apple-esque, but I would’ve preferred to see something like a braided paracord for a more flexible, more premium feel. Time will also tell whether or not this sort of insulation will discolour over time. But, all in all, it doesn’t take away from the fact that Cozoy’s TAKT C is a brilliant-looking and brilliant-feeling piece. At this price, especially, the craftsmanship on show here is truly, truly superb.
Ergonomics and Physical Controls
Aside from being gorgeously robust, the TAKT C is surprisingly lightweight as well. With a phone or Android player on the go, it doesn’t add any noticeable heft. And, it’s dongle-style silhouette lends itself to an impressively compact footprint as well. Now, the only downside to its incredibly small chassis is heat. The TAKT C may grow warm with a source like Apple’s MacBook Pro. It’s definitely not to a concerning degree, but it can prove unideal when working on one’s lap, for example.
As one might assume from reading Build, the TAKT C’s physical controls are flawlessly made as well. All three buttons are extremely solid-feeling and secure, with neither a wiggle, flex nor give. Presses have great tactility to them, and response is swift too. The Play/Pause button has about a second of delay, while the volume rocker is instantaneous, resulting in an impressively seamless experience. Finally, both the device’s connectors are precisely constructed as well. The USB-C plug is gold-plated and polished, perfectly flush in its housing. And, the 3.5mm stereo jack is proper too; neither too loose nor too tight. Echoing what I said earlier, build truly is where the TAKT C shines brightest; above and beyond any of its peers.
Connectivity
As implied in the name, the TAKT C receives its inputs via the USB Type-C protocol. And, thankfully, they’ve designed the device to work entirely without drivers or software of any kind. It’s a plug-and-play device on both my MacBook Pro and the Android sources I’ve tried it with. It’s an extremely convenient, seamless device to use, so you can get listening ASAP.
