op the rowland is a class d ice based product in a nice case
we have tested ice, hypex and ncore amplifiers non sounded as good as our claas A/b reference amplifiers
to date the only class d amplifier we have experienced that was truly amazing sounding is the current avik amplifiers which employ radically different technology then anyone else.
the coda csib bested every integrated including luxman, hegel,naim, electrocompaniet in our shop the only integrated to best the cs1b is the t+A 2500r which costs three times as much for half the power
take away the csib is an incredibile integrated amplifier for the price.
Dave and Troy
Audio intellect NJ
coda, naim, t+A, hegel,dealers
former luxman abd electrocompniet dealers
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@whipsaw
moving on from your circle labs? 😉
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@jjss49
I'm still happy with the CL, but my favorite previous integrated was a first gen. Rowland Concentra, and I have always wondered about how his current models sound.
As for the comparison in the thread title, I have seen the high praise of the Coda, and they are priced similarly on the used market. I am not a fan of the Coda aesthetics, though.
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I owned the Coda 07x preamp and #8 amplifier. I honestly just did not like the 07X at all. I was patient and tried to hear something special, but in the end it sounded rather small and flat in my system. I know others love it. Just not my experience.
The #8 amplifier was very good, but just didn’t do it for me. It has a clean and powerful SS sound. After a couple of months I found it did not satisfy my musical cravings. Very dynamic, clean, extended lows and highs covering all the Aphile descriptions very well. In the end I found it lacked the human touch and natural tone I wanted. Just not engaging enough for my tastes. It certainly demonstrated some sonically impressive feats of strength, however I was looking for something that would connect me more to the music. Something more appealing to the heart vs head if you will.
While I have not heard their integrated I am confident it’s sound would be cut from the same sonic cloth as these separates. Wether the Coda sound satisfies you will depend on what you are looking for sonically in your system.
Well built gear that will appeal to many for sure. Dead quiet in operation and a reputation of good customer service.
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@Grannyring My experiences exactly from decades ago.
FYI I have settled on Luxman as the best integrated. If I had separates I’d consider Coda or Sanders amps for hard to drive speakers, and stick with a Luxman pre or some sweet juicy tube pre.
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@whipsaw
i share your sentiments about coda’s looks
obviously coda folks are off the same family tree as nelson pass from the threshold days, i too have often wondered how the amps compare, but have never pulled the trigger to try one
with my various pass and fw amps (int150 xa25 xa30.5 f5 f6), from the solid state side, imo it is hard to want for anything more in terms sonics, attentiveness to customers and build quality
there are indeed avid coda supporters out there, some quite vocal...
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I love my Coda 07x and #8 combo. It ticks all of the boxes in my system setup. I’ve owned other amp and preamp combos that could not compare sonically. As far as the so called emotional level of satisfaction...I feel that is based on the perception of what the listener feels works best for him or her in a relative way to a preconceived notion that one expects within a certain audio mindset.
I know it works that way for me... For example...there have been times when the car radio or a transistor radio have brought literal tears to my eyes because of a emotional response on my part to the music playing. Far from high end standards... but still a legitimate emotional response none the less.
The Coda stuff just plain does it for me.Of course the rest of the system has to tick one’s box also...as in everything working together in a synergistic kind of way...In all things audio...imho...personal preference is the key to audio nirvana!
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@aolmrd1241 what else have you heard/owned before coda?
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All things in audio are subjective. This is one thing that is always true! No, for me I am not brought to tears by music listening to a transitor radio. At least not to date 🙂.
For me, I need a system that truly excels in realism. The cool thing is even “realism” is subjective as I suppose differing realism cues are important to many of us. Enjoy your Coda gear and I will continue to enjoy my Circle Labs A200. Many great choices for our subjective likes and desires.
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Hello smodtactical. I have listened to many amps and preamps over the years.
These are the amps and preamps I have owned in chronological order since being involved in this crazy hobby.
Music Reference RM9-MKII amp...Music Reference RM5-MKIII preamp.
Edge Electronics NL10 amp...Edge Electronics Signature One preamp.
Merrill Audio Veritas mono-block amps...Prima Luna Dialogue Premium preamp.
Coda #8 amp...Coda 07x preamp.
Cheers!
Hi Bill...I agree with you totally. Subjective for sure! Enjoy your kit too...
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I had a 2019 CSiB (so not the latest) and a CODA 07x and CODA #8. The separates were easily better than the 2019 CSiB. Coda states that the new 2020+ CSiB is very similar to the separates I owned.
I sold the 07x because it imparted a bit of warmth into my system. I came to a point where I no longer needed the warmth because I bought a tube-based headphone integrated amp. I also switched to the Benchmark LA4 for my 2-channel (07x was also used here). I was able to hear a bit more detail from the LA4 preamp over the 07x. I did enjoy the 07x a lot when I needed the warmth. I leveraged the dual XLR outputs of the 07x to make a headphone and 2-channel system from the single 07x.
The CODA #8 was sold because I needed cash for the tube headphone amp. It was a great move in retrospect. Though I was conflicted about selling it. I liked the #8 for the price.
I was debating whether to get the CODA #16 (an incredible amp to my ears) or a KRELL XD amp. I decided on the KRELL because I can get more power from it, and this will be my end game amp for my Livingroom system. I will be using a 2nd Benchmark LA4 or a Holo Serene preamp with the KRELL.
CODA #8 is also very good with the Benchmark LA4 preamp. That is if you only want to mostly hear the amp.
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Thanks for the responses thus far!
I find it interesting that all have been focussed on Coda, and none on Jeff Rowland. I presume that the lopsided disparity is due at least in part to the fact that the latter is Class D, and many audiophiles remain broadly skeptical, or unsold on its SQ versus Class A or A/B.
It has been many years now since I had the 1st gen. JRDG Concentra in my system, but the positive memories linger. Note that I am not a spring chicken, and that with the '80s as a starting point, I have owned some excellent SS amps including Bryston, Pass (albeit an early Aleph), Accuphase (albeit vintage), and Gato.
The Concentra provided what I perceived to be a level of speed that seemed to set it apart. Drum strikes, in particular, were more visceral, and decays seemed more realistic, etc. It reproduced fine detail, but was more smooth than clinical to my ears. Etc.
Hence, my curiosity about his more recent Continuum.
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@whipsaw
i have discussed this on other threads, i vividly recall getting the much ballyhoo-ed jeff rowland class d shoebox mono’s back in the 2010 time frame, paid a pretty penny for them back then, think it was 3500 for the pair... beautiful as they were to look at, the sound was a total disappointment... typical early days class d sound - greyed out tonal color, lifeless treble, no air or sparkle, unnatural decay, while bass was good - sold them within a month
am sure in the ensuing decade, with successive iterations, the product has been improved sonically, but i have no desire to try again... i just feel with that brand, the money is put towards the sexy milled faceplate as much as the innards and actual performance...
@grannyring
No, for me I am not brought to tears by music listening to a transitor radio. At least not to date 🙂.
get panasonic handheld am radio, open case, swap out caps for duelunds, rewire with audio note silver, the tears will flow ...🤣😂😁
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am sure in the ensuing decade, with successive iterations, the product has been improved sonically, but i have no desire to try again... i just feel with that brand, the money is put towards the sexy milled faceplate as much as the innards and actual performance...
I hear you, and it's always tough to completely remove a bad taste from an earlier experience.
As to the inner/outer cost relationship, Rowland has been using that beautifully finished "aircraft grade" aluminum for a long time now, and it's worth considering that the design itself (i.e. the face plates) is not complicated. So I'm skeptical that he would be inclined to cut costs on the guts as a result.
He does seem to blaze his own trail, which I respect, though his "house" sound is clearly not for everyone.
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