@jaymark I believe current is more important than watts. The CODA #16 being prime example.
GREAT NEWS! The Coda Technology new #16 amplifier will arrive this week
I was just informed that Coda's brand new model #16, which is based on the latest generation of improvements used in the #8, will be arriving later this week for review for The Stereo Times website. Since the reviews I have done on the #8 amplifier and the 07x preamplifier, I have received numerous inquires when I'll get this piece in for review.
This beast of an amplifier, over hundred pounds with one of the largest power supplies in a single chassis design on the market, delivers 100 Class A before it crosses over into A/B. The Coda #8, is in my opinion, one of the best SS amps on the market for under ten grand. I expect, based on the run Coda is on with their new generation of gear, that the #16 will be a beautiful musical performer. We shall see! I still find it amazing based on build quality/performance that Coda's prices are so damn reasonable. Yes, the #16 will retail for around 12K, not inexpensive. However, I guarantee if this amplifier was manufactured by other high-end American or European companies it would be triple the price. If the #16 takes the already superlative performance of the #8 to another level, it will be truly a "killer" of an amplifier.
This beast of an amplifier, over hundred pounds with one of the largest power supplies in a single chassis design on the market, delivers 100 Class A before it crosses over into A/B. The Coda #8, is in my opinion, one of the best SS amps on the market for under ten grand. I expect, based on the run Coda is on with their new generation of gear, that the #16 will be a beautiful musical performer. We shall see! I still find it amazing based on build quality/performance that Coda's prices are so damn reasonable. Yes, the #16 will retail for around 12K, not inexpensive. However, I guarantee if this amplifier was manufactured by other high-end American or European companies it would be triple the price. If the #16 takes the already superlative performance of the #8 to another level, it will be truly a "killer" of an amplifier.
Showing 23 responses by yyzsantabarbara
I have the spec sheets for both the CODA #8 and #16 from CODA. If someone can point me to a shared online location to upload, I can do so. A bit ridiculous that info is not available on the CODA web site however, the company is good at returning emails. I was considering 3 amps, Benchmark AHB2 | Luxman m900u | CODA #8 or #16. I have heard the AHB2 and m900u. I like both of them a lot but have a few issues, the AHB2 is a little under-powered but I like the incredible silence on that amp. The m900u is noisier but is sweeter and sounds great. I have a chance to either audition of buy blind the #16 (and save a few bucks) . That SNR of 130 on the CODA #16 was eye popping to me (SNR of 116 on CODA #8). It is almost as good as the AHB2 but with the sweeter character of the Luxman. It seems a best of both worlds, I think I am sold. My preamp is the Benchmark HPA4 with a SNR of 137 so I want an amp very close to that. I can hear the difference in the silence. |
Back in Jan or Feb 2020 I was PMing someone here who had bought the AHB2 and also the CODA # 15.5. The CODA was bought just before the #16 came out. It is supposed to have all the same circuitry as the #16 except for a smaller power supply. Last week, I saw this persons CODA #15.5 on sale on USAudiomart for the price of a new CODA #8. My audio money is tied up in a financial investment for a little while longer. So today, I cannot go for that #15.5 myself. Just an FYI. |
@teajay Thanks for the feedback. You got me interested now. It turns out there is a local CODA dealer for me. I think I will have a listen to the 07x preamp and the 16.0 amp before I put my money down on the Luxman amp + ? preamp. The Luxman dealer is also local so I can do a semi-useful head-to-head comparison. |
@teajay I am looking to get 2 amps, because I want to be a little foolish in my next audio purchase. I am most likely getting the Luxman m900u. I was also going to get (for the 2nd time) the Benchmark AHB2 but I have always had the CODA #8 in the back of my mind as something to checkout. Mainly based on your review but I have also been reading the great feedback here about CODA for many years. I spoke with the Los Angeles dealer for CODA and they have the 07x preamp and #8 but not the #16. I will have to rely on your review to flesh out the details on how the #8 and #16 compare. BTW - the Luxman is actually a little larger than the #16. I was thinking the #16 was massive. |
@audioarchon I downloaded the manual for the CODA 15.5 and extrapolated the dimensions to the new #16. The Luxman dimensions were also from the manual. This is important to me because the room where they will go is not huge. @teajay The AHB2 definitely has a different sound than almost all the amps I have heard in the past. That difference is what attracts me to it as a second or alternative amp. I am building 2 systems. The first, to be done this year, is an upgrade to my current office system and the second in another in 2 years, once my toddler shares his huge play room with me. So having a CODA, Luxman, and maybe a AHB2 at the same time is not wasteful in the long run. I will post photos of my office when done. I have a feeling a lot of you will laugh at the setup I will do but I think it will be interesting and also sound great. |
There is a CODA 07x up for sale on USAudiomart and A’gon. I like my Benchmark LA4 preamp better with the CODA #8. That total silence of the LA4 is what I like the most. The CODA 07x preamp did seem to sound a little better with the KRELL Duo 175XD, though it was a short test. If the Benchmark LA4 had dual XLR outputs I would not keep the 07x. I need the dual XLR outputs to connect the CODA #8 for my RAAL SR1a headphones and the KRELL 175XD to my Thiel CS3.7 speakers. I was all set on upgrading the CODA #8 to the #16. However, this KRELL 175XD sounds a lot like the CODA #16 I demoed, and I do not think I will upgrade the #8. The RAAL SR1a headphones actually draw more power out of the #8 compared to my Thiel CS3.7 speakers. Which is very surprising. |
The short answer: I sold the Schitt Freya+ which I tried for 3-months because I was curious. It was OK with my Benchmark AHB2. Otherwise, I it did not make me happy like the LA4 or 07x. The long answer: I learned to love the slightly noisier CODA 07x, however, I do prefer my Benchmark LA4 preamp more (it is noiseless and adds nothing). What I did is kept the CODA 07x in my office (the better system) and now use the LA4 in an all-Benchmark stack in the Livingroom with KEF LS50s. I am going to upgrade those LS50’s this year or next to the new KEF Blade2 (or the better fitting Reference 1). In the office, I now have the CODA 07x connected to both the KRELL Duo 175XD and the CODA #8. I like the KRELL a little more for both my SR1a headphones and my Thiel CS3.7. The KRELL is a smoother and sounds more like the CODA #16 to me. It must be the Class A that both have amps in common over the CODA #8. A new wrinkle to my setup occurred last weekend when I heard the new dedicated RAAL SR1 amp called the VM-1a. It is better than either the CODA #8 or the KRELL 175XD paired with the CODA 07x. I considered my setup as good as you can get with the SR1a, but I now realize there is a tiny bit of inefficiency when using a 2-channel amp with the SR1a. The VM-1a is a dedicated direct drive headphone amp ($6500) that only works with the SR1a. During the last 3 days I had my CODA #8 for sale to fund the VM-1a and also because a second amp 2-cheannel amp in the office is now redundant. However, last night I pulled the ad because I already missed the CODA #8 and put it back into my office system. I will keep it even though it is not really needed. When the KEF Blade2 arrive, I could consider trading the #8 for the #16. My dealer will give me 100% for that trade-in.
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@jaymark We had the same modded Voyager amp. I sold mine sometime back because I decided to keep the CODA #8 over the Voyager. Not saying the CODA #8 was better than the Voyager. Just that I had another amp that I thought was similar to the modded Voyager, the Benchmark AHB2 monos. The CODA #16 reminded me of both the AHB2 and modded Voyager on top end but it is also very meaty. I prefer the #16 to the #8. I think it is the Class A vs AB that sways my preference. Yesterday, I sold my KRELL DUO 175XD which I thought sounded a lot like the CODA #16.
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My Coda #8 meters mostly moved when I used it as a headphone amp for my RAAL SR1a headphones. When I used the #8 with the Thiel CS3.7 speakers I really had to crank it up to make the meter move. If I were to get another CODA it would be the #16 without meters. I also think it looks better without the meters. @jaymark you should save for the #16. The Voyager and the #8 are around the same level while the #16 is a bigger jump up. The #16 is similar to the modded Voyager and the #8 merged together. Very clean on top and really strong powerful amp. I would not say the #8 and the modded Voyager had BOTH of those qualities. They each had 1. |
@jaymark Congrats, that is going to be great amp for you. Not sure if you are aware but you can easily run 2 preamps into the #16 via RCA and XLR. There is a switch on the front that toggles between the 2 input options on the amp. |
My view is to stick with Class A over AB. The SPL (never heard) and the CODA #8 are mostly Class AB. I definitely could tell the difference compared to the Class A amps I owned. I recently heard the Rotel Mitchi stereo amp and again the Class AB sound was there. Though I would take a Mitchi over the CODA #8 (I owned) but not the #16. The Benchmark AHB2 (Class AB + H) is the exception, which sounds a lot like Class A to me.
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@jaymark The Voyager only became a strong contender for me after the mods. I do agree it needed more strength in the lower end. Interesting comment on the SPL Elector. I remember reading about it and telling myself to keep it in my mind. However, I forgot about it and am now considering the Holo Audio Serene preamp for my Livingroom. I use a Benchmark LA4 in my office though I need 1 more source input. The Elector may work in my office with Benchmark AHB2 monos and the LA4 moved to my future Livingroom system with a new KRELL Class A amp (that would be a killer combo since I had it before). The LA4 and CODA #8 was my preference over the CODA 07x preamp + CODA #8. How quiet is the Elector? Do you hear anything with your ear to the tweeter. I am looking for pure silence, like the LA4 and the Serene fits the bill (but a bit warmer). Though it does not have the same number of inputs as the Elector.
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@jaymark Congrats, that is awesome to hear. Is your room big? I am wavering on spending 3x more to buy the new KRELL KSA i400 (more powerful) when I also love the cheaper CODA #16 (powerful enough for my room?). |
@rlovendale thanks for that advice. It was suggested to me to use this from the wall to the CODA #16. IsoTek - EVO3 Syncro Uni Sine Wave Rebalancing Unit (C19) - Music Direct I am going to give it a try. It supposed to be non-current limiting.
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Got the CODA #16 today and listening with the IsoTek listed above. The CODA #16 is used so, broken in. When I heard the #16 in the past it was with a warmer preamp. It was great and the reason I wanted to buy it. However, today, connected to my neutral Benchmark LA4 preamp. This thing is at another level. A fantastic amp and one my son will inherit from me.
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I was debating buying the CODA #16 or the new KRELL KSA i400 which was 5x more than the used #16. Price was a factor, but the biggest issue was the much smaller size and weight of the CODA. It also is not too bad in terms of heat, not as good in that regards as the KRELL XD lineup. I am sharing the space with my son who uses it as a playroom. Last thing to do now is buy the speakers.
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I mentioned in an earlier post that it was possible using 2 preamps with the CODA #16. I sort of did that today. The CODA #16 has a button on front of the amp to toggle between XLR and RCA. I want to run a Lumin X1 into the XLR of the CODA and use DAC direct-to-amp so that I can eliminate streaming boxes, a preamp, and a bigger rack and cables. However, I have an issue where I want a tuner in the mix for background music. Especially in the morning to wake everyone up. I got a $50 passive volume control from Schitt Audio called the SYS. It has no power cord and takes the RCA out from my 4" x 4" Sony XDR tuner and then outputs RCA into the CODA. The SYS is the size of large wallet and has a volume control and a switch for the 2 source inputs. The sound of this thing is really good, way better than expected. I think I am going to keep the tuner on the floor next to the amp and the SYS on top. The Lumin DAC will be about 15 feet away. Not much reflective surface area between the speakers. That toggle switch on the FRONT of the CODA #16 is a great idea. My analog tuners sound way better than streaming radio, which is a non-starter for me.
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