Coda vs Parasound

FWIW I have the Coda S5.5 and it is a very good sounding amplifier, very powerful for it's modes rating. I can wholeheartedly recommend Coda amplifiers.

Audiotroy WAS a Parasound dealer and IS NOW a Coda dealer.

Mmmm, might want to take his advice with a grain of salt. I just installed a JC5 in my system and could not be anymore pleased. I know nothing about Coda.

I have owned lower end Parasound (A21+) and the CODA #8 and #16. The #16 is the best amp I have owned.

Another amp that competes very favorably to the #8 is the new Schitt Wotan. It is $2k and has a 15-day home trial, though it took 2 months of very heavy play to get the top end hardness to go away.,

I really like the Wotan with Forkbeard integration. Sounds very good, powerful, and love the iPhone integration. Saves me the hassle of walking a few feet to put into Standby.

It’s really hard to beat Coda.  Auditory though he’s a dealer and that might make him biased provided some great info on Coda.  If you like their sound signature, which Auditory did a good job describing, build quality, quality of parts combined with their engineering know how is about the best value in high end audio.  Their gear isn’t cheap by any stretch but you can compare their gear to other high end brands and in an apples to apples comparison their gear is probably 20-50 % less expensive, likely made with better, more expensive parts by engineers that know how to maximize the performance of the parts used.  You can’t go wrong with Coda, again, if you like their sound signature.  Pass is another great brand, Coda has ties to Pass, Audiotey did a great job laying out the differences, Pass will be warmer but both Coda and Pass are gainless and are designed to control, grip speakers far beyond their wattage ratings.  
 

Parasound, not made in China, designed in California and built in Taiwan.  Parasound built its brand on having world class engineers in Cali design, select parts, components and then manufacturing in Taiwan to strict quality standards delivering some of the best “bang for the buck” equipment.  I wouldn’t put their gear in the class of Coda but in fairness, Coda is way more $$.  The # 8 Coda would really be compared to the A21 +, the # 16 to the JC5.  The A21+ or the JC5 are both great amps as well.  I’d roll with the Coda # 8 but would have no issues living with either the A21+ or JC5, you should let your ears guide you. 
 

I got to compare the A21, Coda # 8 and Krell 300xd in my system.  I landed on the Krell, to me it was the best of Pass and the best of Coda rolled together.  All Class A, Krell kept its legendary ability to drive almost any speaker with grip, control alive with the XD gear along with a silky, grainless, smooth presentation.  There is also a touch of warmth, tube magic to the Krell XD gear.  Prior to the comparison I owned the A21 and Coda at the same time, had lots of time I compare the 2.  I preferred the Coda but was based on my taste, the A21 for around half the price of the Coda was really hard to beat form a dollars / performance ratio.  
 

I’d give a look to Coda, Parasound, Pass and Krell.  Let your ears decide.  I’d list their build / parts / warranty ranking as:

1. Coda

2. Pass - will have the best resale value if you decide to sell / upgrade 

3. Parasound / Krell tied 

Not a big poster here, but I absolutely love my Coda #8.  I was using the Pass XA25.  They are indeed very close competitors, and cater to slightly different sound footprints, but I chose the Coda due to greater power in the bottom end, and slightly more clarity in mids and high, compared to the warmth of the Pass amp (much like Audiotroy's description).  I have not listened to Parasound or Bryston, but the Coda is my end game.