Good one!
Pass Labs xa-25 or Coda Continum #8
I’m looking at both of these amps as future contenders. Downsizing to a one box amp or perhaps integrated(another thread for another time) and I’d like opinions on these 2. There are quite a bit of discussions on the xa25 and my speaker builder, Volti, says he’s heard with his speakers and it’s a good match. I currently have a 300b but moving may force my hand. Anyway, it’s really the Coda I’m not as familiar with. It has come up in some of the xa-25 discussions as an alternative. The incoming Volti’s are 99db so they don’t need a ton of juice obviously. Anyone with first hand experience with both? Any comments are appreciated.
‘BTW, no single box tube amp suggestions. If I stay with tubes I already know which direction I’m going.
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Great thread. I'm on the fence about choosing between the Pass XA.25 and the Coda S5.5, but I'm leaning towards the Coda. @earthbound you're right, there are plenty of raving reviews about both amps. It's really difficult to get genuine feedback about audio gear on the Internet with all those paid ads and sponsored reviews. Still, I’ve read a lot of positive comments here and on WBF about the Coda, and many people moved from Pass Labs to Coda and considered it a step up. Actually, I just saw the first somewhat negative comment from @hickamore: 'The one thing lacking is the sense of huge black sky overhead that you get from superpower amps.' That makes me a bit sad, because it sounds like I’ll lose something special. |
I have owned a few Pass amps and liked them. In the end, they were very smooth but not as "energetic" as I had hoped. Down the road I tried the Coda, not moving away from Pass at that time, and fell in love with it. I considered larger Coda amps but this 8 unit is well broken in and just works marvelously. Both the Pass and Coda amps are reliable, quiet, and not fussy. Don't know about the XA heat signature, but the Coda never gets hot. You can place your palm on the amp and never fear getting burned (or heating up your room). Best of luck!! |
Thanks guys. Since the start I’ve kind of moved off the xa-25. I’ve reading about how neutral it is. I don’t want anything much more transparent and neutral than my tube amp, which is already a tough listen on many of my favorite albums. The Sit-4 and 5 are also on my radar. Btw, the Coda some have said can be a little noisy compared to some amps. That concerned me. |
@earthbound Where did you hear that about the Coda being a little noisy? Please provide the source, I'd like to read about that too. @bugredmachine Thanks for your opinion. How would you describe sound signature from the Coda? |
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