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.
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 |
@joeycastillo Thank you Joey. My local dealer doesn’t demo models unfortunately. I’m going by word of mouth I guess. Whether it’s the xa-25, sit-4 or sit-5, I’m sure I will be happy. They are all excellent choices. I do like the idea of the extra power. Leaning sit-5 or xa-25. I’m in no hurry so I don’t want to rush. Trying to enjoy hearing from people and getting their viewpoints. So, thanks again. Much appreciated |
I have the XA-25. It is a superb unit, it does nothing except make the signal bigger! To quote Stereophile "...what might be the most transparent amplifier available at any price". The review sums it up. It is not sterile but do not expect quite the luscious midrange that 300Bs can yield. I go back, forth and around rolling between the XA-25, a completely upgraded Elekit TU-8900 (including Lundahl OPTs, Jupiter Paper-Wax caps, NOS RCA 2A3 tubes, Amperex ECC82s) and a home brewed push pull, balanced 6SN7 (NOS RCA Black Plate), 300B (current production WE) and Lundahl OPTs. (I am 81 years old and can just move the XA-25, 63 years ago I was in the university crew and a bit of that has stayed with me) The XA-25 is (probably) the most resolving and accurate, the Elekit allows me to listen inside the soundstage and the 300B is just seductive. Perhaps, for what I have spent on those three amps I could have fond one that had all of the qualities - but I doubt it, as I suspect that the enhancement (?) by the tube amps precludes the ultimate resolution of the SS. My speakers are Rockport Atria IIs (87dB @ 2.83V, 4 Ω) that I bought before the 50% price increase! |
