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Preview: CODA Technologies new generation number#8 Stereo Amplifier

I have always had a keen interest in hearing a CODA amplifier in my own system for a long time. This company has been in existence for over twenty years. It's if they were a "stealth" product, very few American reviews, built many highly regarded amplifiers for other companies as an OEM source, and most of their products are loved/sold in the Asian/European markets.

I finally was able to set up a review for hometheaterreview.com on their new generation single chassis number#8 amplifier.  Internally, their has been some very important changes in the power supply, along with "kept in house" different part selections through out the entire circuit pathway.  Externally, the #8 has a pair of blue light power meters and is quite a good looking piece of gear. The build quality and parts used are at the highest level.  The number#8 amplifier is 150 watts into 8 Ohms and 300 watts into 4 Ohms.  The first 18 watts is pure class A.  Regardless of the volume levels I play the amp never leaves its class A rating.  Like all Coda amplifiers a special quality is the #8 ability to provide 150 Amperes of current if needed!

Well, the beauty of what this amplifier has brought to my system has lead to all night long listening sessions.  I have owned/reviewed other great SS amplifiers. However, the #8, being driven by the new Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamplifier has some special qualities, here are a few:

1) It might be the quietest amplifier I have ever had in my system.  This allows all the micro-details to float out and be heard.  Yet, the #8 never sounds edgy/electrical/mechanical as other very detailed amps can.
2) It's lighting fast and provides the speed and aliveness you find in live music to a higher degree then other amps I have had in my system.
3) The overall tonality is "silky-smooth" with not a touch of grain/dryness.
4) The macro-dynamics overall and the control of the bottom end are superlative.


In my review I'll get into all the details why this is a killer amplifier!  I also think its a "bargain" at it's retail price of $6,500.00.  So, if your in the market I strongly suggest you might want to hear the #8 before you purchase another amplifier.  It's that good.





 
teajay

Showing 4 responses by rlovendale

rlovendale
93 posts
 
Audiotroy,
what are the Coda 8 amplifier specs (input impedance?) cannot find them anywhere
Is there any difference as far as sound quality using balanced/unbalanced inputs?
Thanks,
Dan
You should email Coda to confirm, but the input impedance should be 10 kOhms for the balanced input and 50 kOhms for the unbalanced input.

As the amp has a fully differential input stage with a DC-coupled balanced input, that would be the purest signal path. Going through the AC-coupled unbalanced input would route the signal through additional circuitry. Whether this is audible likely depends on your ears and your particular room/equipment and whether you have any ground loops.

See: https://www.noiseengineering.us/blog/2017/5/12/ac-vs-dc-coupling-what-where-why ("Different types of voltage are handled differently at the input. DC-coupled inputs are the more straightforward: the circuitry just takes the input as it is. The entire signal passes through, more or less untouched. AC-coupled inputs are different. They include a capacitor in the circuit that allow them to filter out very low frequencies.")
rlovendale
93 posts
 
What is the difference between the Continuum No. 8 and the Continuum Ts, aside from the aesthetics and the meters on the front panel?
rlovendale
93 posts
 
Pass seems more impressive because they are designed to. Pass sinks a lot of money into the bling factor and fancy heatsinks. Coda designs are not as pretty, but they are also cheaper. Compare also Plinius for fancy heatsinks.

The 16.0 and its predecessors run cool for Class A designs because the heatsinks are super efficient. Contrast that with Pass and Plinius that are room heaters.

This tour well predates the #8 and shows more of the bigger amps, but some pictures of assembly for perusal:

https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/company-tours/coda-technologies-march-25-2011/129-introdu...

https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/company-tours/coda-technologies-march-25-2011/130-buildin...
rlovendale
93 posts
 
Best to ask Coda those kinds of engineering questions. Anyone in this thread could only speculate. I’m curious to hear what you find out.
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