You guys are having too much fun ie therapy with this audio stuff. Great therapy and it's fun to read and see people's non biased opinions. Enjoy the music and the search.
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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@ghdprentice - IIRC you’re curious about 300B amplification but have not yet explored, why not? Like the OP, get a used Volti and a 300B amp. Shouldn’t be too expensive relative to your current audio chain. Seems like loads of fun. You only live once. |
I went through XA25 for a couple of years with the PMC Twenty26 @86dB It was the clarity and vice like grip that was a major feature. Mine was silent as it was upgraded fully shielded internally by the upgrade company at the time. Ultimately I found the ARC combo LS10 and D240 MKII suited my taste. Transparency sound stage and musicality. Today I’m still using the D240 in the second system, and a Michi X3 in the main system. I’ve been meaning to swap these around to compare. |
OP
all of the above are great post. I have not heard a Coda, but I am a pass labs kind of guy However, I notice that your previous gear is a tube 300B. I own an Audio note clone 845 based SET and before I purchased this unit, it was a shoot off between 300B JeLabs design versus 845. I chose the 845 simply because for the dynamics and PRAT, while the JELabs 300B presented a lot of lovely 300B liquidity. going on, I then compared my XA25 to the 845 clone and I can tell you this, they are nearly close to each other. the xa 25 advantage is its ability to represent music in a 3D like space more than the 845 clone. but other than that, the PRAT, tone and vocals of females are very surreal. very palpable. So, i hope i was able to convey how a xa25 may sound like.as comparing to your 300b tube, xa25 can push more power. I suggest if you can demo both, that will be the best way.
Good luck |
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