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.
I had the Lyngdorf 2170 and used it for about a year. Both the Lyngdorf and the Anthem have good room correction software, but I like the Anthem STR better.
@gb9746 Thanks for the feedback on the preamp section of the integrated. I am going to demo the STR integrated and the Lyngdorf 2170 for preamp duty (both have DSP) but I am really interested in the STR preamp if I decide to go with the Anthem.
Good idea on calling Coda. I may get the Coda #8 or the Benchmark AHB2 for my soon to be second system.
I am using the Anthem STR Integrated as my preamp. I called Anthem and they said the preamp section in the STR integrated amp and the STR preamp are basically the same
Because the Tekton Moabs have 98dB 2.83V@1m sensitivity, my Coda was ordered with 150 watts w/18 watts pure class A. If you call Coda, they will advised you what settings would work best for you.
@gb9746 Are you planning on getting a separate preamp and replace the STR integrated, or did I misunderstand and you are using the STR preamp and not STR integrated.
Yesterday, I received my Coda No 8. I am using an Anthem STR as a preamp, and Tekton Moab speakers. The Coda is not broken in yet, but the sound so far is amazing.
High amps we have and continue to get great results with most loudspeakers with the Coda gear.
The Coda gear is very well balanced it is not uber lush, nor is it bright.
The Coda sound is clean with a touch of warmth, a huge soundstage, tight, punchy bass, excellent resolution.
We have gotten fantastic results on pretty much all of our loudspeaker lines, the choice of preamp tube or solid state, front end and cabling will also effectively tune the sound depending on the desired sound.
OK, I broke down and got the Coda amp. Fantastic. It replaces the Parasound A21 in my system and substantially improves on it. Something that I don’t think has been mentioned here is that you can get the amp in one of three configurations.
Coda is very much in business, they are working on a new website.
They are shipping Number 8 and people who have received their are very impressed with them.
For the money it is one of the best sounding amplifiers we have ever heard, we just sold a Point 8 with its matching preamp to a client with ATC SCM 19mk 2 monitors with a Golden Ear Sub x woofer and a Lumin streamer.
The Point 8 is very open, has a stunning midrange, and throws a huge soundstage. You have to pay a lot more to get a really superior amplifier.
Hi Dave & Troy, I have a Theater 7 (non XD), which I was thinking about upgrading. However, you keep mentioning warm, warmer, etc. I use the Theater 7 for a home Theater, so I'm not sure now that I want to do the upgrade. It almost sounds like the non XD version would be closer to the Coda than the XD version, since I am guessing the non XD version is less warm.
Mikey, the Krell does not sound exactly like a tube. The XD series has a much more organic and flowing sound which is remininicent of a tube sound, also the new XD series is much more midrange orienteted and sounds warmer then any Krell of the past, and yes we would say the new XD are less slamy then the original.
The amplifiers are so much more engaging that is why people are raving over them.
The Stereophile article was just one of their attempts to be interesting such as if this amplifier is right then the other is wrong kind of thing.
Dave and Troy Audio Doctor NJ Krell, Anthem and Coda dealers
I have heard the iBias designs but not the XD ones.
They are more musical - not tube like though - but I felt they gave up a lot of the bass slam that Krell was famous for.
I am guessing the XD upgrade is similar to the FPB c to FPB cx upgrade.
I remember the old Stereophile cover comparing a Cary to a Krell KSA series amp in the 90’s. They depicted the Krell as being polar opposites to a tube amp. I think they revisited the story a few months ago with current equivalents.
Throughout the years I have heard marketing hyperbole about how this particular solid state or Class D amp sounds like a tube amp. People also say that about the d'Agostino amps - but again that wasn't my impression. I have never heard a solid state amp that sounds tube like - even the very costly FM Acoustics ones. They may sound musical in their own way but not tube like.
Hey guys sorry not to get back to these questions will try to anwer the opinions on these three killer amps
They are all fantastic and all a bit different
Coda is the best overall amplifier in terms of image size, depth, having a warm full midrange, and a very delicate top end. Overall our favorite unless you really want to play loud or have a very unrully load.
Krell has better bass being a bit warmer in the lower frequencies, vs the Coda which was a bit tighter, slightly faster. The Krell has an even warmer midrange, Krell’s soundstage was equilly as good, the amp never seemed to run out of omph. and was just a beautiful sound on all loudspeakers.
Anthem STR a bit less air then the other amplifiers, bass was also warm, still quite tight a tick tighter than the Coda's bass, also nver ran out of omph.
So overall Coda number one, Krell number two, Anthem STR number three.
The Coda does take a long time to burn in. Fantastic amplifier at a great price unless you need more slam just an awesome amplifier. The most balanced out of all three amplifiers.
If you want a warmer even more tube like presentation then the Krell is your amp.
If you want a bit more neutral still a bit warm but less air and precence the Anthem is still quite musical just less overall wow factor then the other two great power reserves and outstanding bass never ran out of juice.
Hope that helps, these are all exceptinal amplifiers comes down to taste the Coda was really exceptional for most of our clients who we demoed it for.
Dave and Troy Audio Doctor NJ Dealers for Coda, Krell, and Anthem
@imhififan Thanks for the info. I spoke with Doug Dale and he said for no upcharge they add a 12v bias trigger in the back panel. There is already a hole that is plugged for this use.
Anyone know if this Coda amp has auto turn on? I don't see triggers. Or
will it either need to be turned on every time it is used, or left on
all the time
My coda integrated left on 24/7, push the 'bias' button on remote or front panel when I want to play music.
Anyone know if this Coda amp has auto turn on? I don't see triggers. Or will it either need to be turned on every time it is used, or left on all the time
There are a number of Audio Archon power cables. Do you have a recommendation as to which of the Audio Archon power cables high work well with the Coda No 40 amp - 400 wpc Class AB.
@yyzsantabarbara I already have the Str Preamp and funny thing, I'm also using the Persona 3F's. Great Speakers! The STR pre/power combo sounds great with the persona's, but thought the Coda would take it up a notch.
@ron1264 What preamp are you considering for the Coda or Anthem STR? I am also considering both of those amps if I buy the Paradigm Persona 3F speaker.
Thanks for the prompt response and recommendation for Audio Archon power cords. I have purchased a No. 40 amp from Coda with the new input transistors installed. So far I have run it in for about 18 hours and there is a noticeable improvement in very low level detail. Even at this time, I find it to be a remarkably fine amplifier with excellent transparency of low level detail and better imaging depth and specificity than my previous Krell 402e. I have Martin Logan CLX's and the No 40 is an excellent match.
No, after the break-in period I did not notice any more changes. I use the Audio Archon power cords throughout my system. I have auditioned many other power cords, some very costly, and find these cords to be as good if not better then others. Very reasonably priced.
Saw the Coda No 8 review. You stated that you started serious listening after a 70 hour break-in period. Did you notice any further evolution in sound after that initial break-in? Also, did you try different power cables with the No 8?
For speakers that either the Coda or Pass xa25 would both drive without problem, would anyone recommend one amp over the other based purely on sound quality?
I like Coda having owned one years ago, very nice amp. Doug is a good guy, and I trust TJ's review.
I dig meters and machining and typically like Coda's look, but something about that amp looks too "Busy" for me. I'm sure it sounds excellent and the built quality is likely great. I think it's the combination of the meters and the + machining that makes it look a little too much like a tic-tac-toe board for my liking.
I'd like to see it with less machining, or maybe just the "coda" circle in the middle. Seems like an amp that is so close looks wise.
But, beauty in the beholder. I've had conversations about meters and I know he is not a big fan but the market likes it.
My understanding is that the principal differences between the TS and No 8 amps are the use of new lower noise transistors, I believe FETs, in the input stage, and the presence of power meters as well as the associated circuitry needed to run these meters. The lower noise input circuitry FETs are also being incorporated into other CODA models. According to Doug Dale the decrease in noise levels with the newer input circuitry devices is readily measurable. I have not seen anyone comment on a direct listening comparison of the TS and No 8 amps.
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