I think that the noise comments stem from their preamps, which can be perceived as noisy. I had an older one with my #8, and I felt that was the case.
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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@earthbound I like the combination of tube preamp and solid state amplifier. I get some of the tube warmth, but not too much. I'm using a Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamp level 2 and I'm quite happy. It's not a real warm tubey sound. I had a conrad-johnson preamp before it and I'm much happier with the LTA. The conrad-johnson made some recordings sound awesome and others not so much. The LTA doesn't have that issue. |
Some people mentioned that the Coda S5.5, because it operates in pure class A, produces a sound that is somewhat tube-like – a bit on the warm side, yet at the same time it preserves the clarity and detail of a solid-state design. However, in this thread I've read that this amp is mostly transparent. |
Many of the finest audio component makers represent the vision (and ears) of one or a few serious audio designers. Both Pass and Coda have long and honorable traditions in the industry, and plenty of advocates. I wanted to tip my cap to Nelson Pass, though. I was barely a teenager when his DIY article for a class A amp design (the A20) appeared in Audio magazine - the first of dozens of published articles since. His Stasis circuit patent is used in the classic Threshold, Adcom, & Nakamichi amps. He likes to build speakers, too (BS in Physics, not EE). He's a regular contributor on diyAudio. Without him, there would be no Burning Amp (Burning Amp 2025 on Oct 4-5 in Petaluma!). I trust his ears and his dedication to individual initiative. |
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