Review on Coda Technologies 16 Amplifier went live today

@yyzsantabarbara seems like an awesome system

What did you like more about the Krell XD over the no 16. Or why did you choose the XD over no 16 ?

The CODA #16 is really an excellent amp. One of the very best amps I have ever heard. It reminded me of my Benchmark AHB2 on the top end, so clean and smooth. I did not spend much time with the #16, though I knew immediately that I preferred it to the #8 that I owned.

The dealer that I am working with for the KEF Blade feels that the CODA is a bit warmer than the KRELL XD amps. I disagree with him on that. The KRELL XD amp is not an amp that I am normally attracted too sonically. However, after owning the K-300i for a year and now the KRELL 175XD (up for sale) I realized that I ALWAYS have a great time listening to music on these amps.

The sound is very smooth, with enough details, and a bit rounder on top. I also think the bass is very strong. The pairing with the new KEF speakers is something that I have done for a year, with LS50 Meta. So I know that is a great pairing. My dealer also says that is how he prefers the Blades paired. So that is why I am going with the KRELL over the CODA.

My office system has Benchmark AHB2 monos and the CODA #16 is also on the neutral side, so the KRELL is a change of pace from that sonic signature. Another reason for getting the KRELL XD for the Livingroom system.

Interesting how you find the no 16 more neutral but the coda pre more tubey.

I would say the 07x is not as nuetral as my preferred Benchmark LA4. I bet the majority opinion would be to favor the 07x over the LA4.

I saw you were asking about preamps in the other thread. I think you will really like the 07x.

I absolutely love my Coda #16. It is the best SS amp I’ve ever owned. The only thing that could make me part with it would be the custom built tube mono blocks that will be arriving this week and that’s a maybe.

+1 07x

For you 07x owners reading this thread. There is a separate power supply upgrade coming out for the 07x. I am sure it will increase the performance. Prior owners can use it, not sure how that would work..

@yyzsantabarbara It sounds like we have some similar tastes, I am running LS50's with a Coda #8 and a Freya + pre. What caught my eye was your pending choice of the Holo Serene as your next preamp, it is what I am eyeing as well as an upgrade to the Freya. I look forward to your review of that piece. Meanwhile, I will have to live vicariously through you and your Blades, no room for those on this end.

I’ve been reading about the outboard power supply upgrade for the 07x for two or more years now, but have seen no concrete evidence of it nor heard any rumblings from Coda themselves. I wouldn’t hold my breath.

@lancelock what other high end amps have you owned?

@yyzsantabarbara if i could get a demo id love to put it up against my arc ref5se. I did talk to one audiophile who said he liked the ARC LS27 more than his 07x but of course I have to hear for myself.

I'd love to do a shootout between 07x and VAC Ren V.

@zlone From what other owner’s have told me about the Holo Audio Serene and also from the measurements. It seems to me very similar to the Benchmark LA4. I have been told the Serene has a touch more warmth.

I can tell you that the LA4 and the CODA #8 were amazing together. I spent a year flipping back and forth between the Benchmark AHB2, Benchmark LA4, CODA #8, and CODA 07x. That is, I used them in various permutations. All combinations of the gear matched so nicely to my ears. I got rid of some of the gear because I thought it was a little to crazy to do this. I only sold the CODA #8 (reluctantly) because I wanted to buy the RAAL VM-1a headphone amp. In hindsight it was a great move.

I also owned the Schitt Freya+ for a few months and I was very happy to find it pairing nicely with my RAAL SR1a headphones and the Benchmark AHB2. I had a tough time making the AHB2 work with the RAAL SR1a, even though the SR1a designer used the AHB2 when developing it. The Freya+ was a great tone control to the bright SR1a and neutral AHB2.

Today, I am using the LA4 and AHB2 monos with the SR1a headphone (on my 2-channel) setup. I cannot believe it works because it was awful before. However, this time I am using the Musetec 005 DAC which seems to be the magic sauce that holds it together. The Musetec 005 is not good with my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp (surprising).

The Blades are a decade+ in the making for me. Either no space, no money, or new baby.

@smodtactical There is a dealer in Winnipeg that sells CODA. I have spoken with him in the past and he maybe willing to send you a demo 07x. 

I was not able to quickly find his contact info in my emails or a search of ad's on USAM. CODA can get you his info and other Canadian dealers.

@smodtactical 

SS Amp’s I’ve owned:

Coda #16 (current amp)

Coda #8

Benchmark AHB2

Van Alstine AVA FET400

Plinius SA103

Mirror Image Audio 1.1 SB

Musical Fidelity M6PRX

AGD Audion’s

@yyzsantabarbara yup ive talked to him too, he said no to demos

@lancelock nice history there

@smodtactical

Of that bunch I can firmly put the #16 at the top of the heap but a special shout-out to the 35 year old Mirror Image Audio 1.1 SB for competing with the best current day amps. My friend (Dave Rayden) used to own the company.

How do the Plinius SA-103 and the AVA FET400 compare to the #16?

I loved the SA-103 when I demoed at a dealer, and haven’t heard an AVA amp.

@lancelock I absolutely love my Coda #16. It is the best SS amp I’ve ever owned. The only thing that could make me part with it would be the custom built tube mono blocks that will be arriving this week and that’s a maybe.

Uh oh, you did it now. Just kidding, or maybe not. 😉 It’s what I run again now after 35+ years with ss amps. What output tubes?

@decooney 

60’s vintage Altec Lansing 1570B  built by John Tucker (Exempler Audio) they use (2)  811A tubes in each mono block and produce 165 watts per channel. These mods surpass Tom Tutay’s mods. Sounds like a high powered SET.

@rlovendale 

the #16 sounds better to me than both of those SS amps. I thought the Plinius was too warm. The AVA FET400, even though not class A was a decent sounding amp with excellent bass but not on the level of the Coda #16.

@lancelock by chance did you ever try the other Vision SET 400 class A/B design by AVA?

@decooney 

i have not tried any other Van Alstine amps. I bought that one from David Janszen

Damn the Coda #16 seems awfully enticing....

@lancelock how do u park the Coda 16 ? Move it around? It seems like it is a monster size/weight wise.

Well, the question is moot cause the X250.5 weighs 110#.  I should be able to handle it.  Now, the price tag....

@jaymark the #16 is not big at all. I was really surprised at how small it actually is. It is bigger than the #8 but given the specs of the #16 I thought it would be much bigger.

@jaymark 

The #16 is not as big as as my old Plinius amp for example, but don’t let that fool you. Like your X250.5 it weighs 110 lbs.

@lancelock maybe my fixation on the Coda #16's size and weight was perhaps looking for a reason to move on to the #8.  However, my wife grudgingly gave me the green light to spring for the Coda #16.  So, 110# be damned, I will be getting the 16.  

@jaymark 

congratulations I don’t think you will be disappointed.

@lancelock how do your tube amps compare to the 16 ?

@smodtactical 

They are both Incredible sounding amps just different flavors. The tubes provide greater depth and size of sound stage. The tube sound is more dense and maybe I’m just listening to a beautiful distortion but I love it. My preference for tubes doesn’t take anything away from the Coda. It’s the best sounding SS amp I’ve ever heard.

I see your speakers are about 88 db. Do the altecs drive it well? What kind of power output do they have?

@smodtactical 

The Modded Altec Lansing 1570B mono blocks have 165 watts each. They run (2) 811A power triodes. The high voltage Peerless transformers are what makes them special. No one makes these anymore.

I have a 96db speaker currently use an OTL and very happy too. 

I was looking for a SS amp from a flavour pov of great low LF. Anyone have an opinion on the S 5.5 since I dont need a lot of power it looks like the ticket for me. 

I've been a Pass Labs owner in the past and I find the sound boring vs say Karan Acoustics which I owned too. 

I've since departed from SS completely and gone down the high sensativity speaker and low power amp way. Looking to have a good SS now. 

Would be glad to know opinions of others on the S5.5 50watt pure class a amps.

I know this is an older thread but I wanted to discuss a bit. I have a summer system and a winter system. CJ Tubes for winter (ET5 and P12 amp) and I have a NAD M23 amp for summer that I would like to pair with a SS pre. I am considering the Coda 07x to use with the NAD. If I like it enough I might even use it with the P12 in the winter. A buddy lent me his Parasound JC2 and Benchmark LA4. The JC2 had incredible bass probably the best I have heard but the highs had a bit of grain to it. The LA4 was crystal clear but was flat sounding. Like everyone says it appears to be neutral. Note I did have to float the ground on the LA4 as I was getting some hum. It is a quiet unit. Thoughts? I dont mind (in fact prefer) a Pre with some character.

Hey jimbones,

Take a look at my Stereo Times review on the 07x which will give you the details of why this is one of my favorite solid state preamplifiers. 

Teajay

I owned the 07x | LA4 + HPA4 | Holo Serene preamp | Schitt Mjolnir v3 at one time and paired it with the CODA #16. Actually, the 07x may have been paired with the CODA #8. A bit of a blur now.

The 07x did not have the detail that the LA4 and the Holo Serene provided me. It was also noisier than those 2 and I could hear noise on very quiet passages. Once I heard that I always focused on that so the 07x had to go. A lot of people on here have said I am crazy with that observation.

My 07x was rebuilt by Doug at CODA due to this issue since it was noisier than the dealer’s unit. We had them side-by-side and compared. However, even after Doug replaced every single component on my 07x, except the case, I still found it lacking in comparison to the LA4 and the Serene.

The LA4 is indeed not holographic and will not add to the sound. However, my speakers have a bit of warmth and that is all I want. If you want a bit more warmth from your preamp, the Holo Serene will provide a bit more than the LA4.

A good way to figure out if you like the LA4 is to do a 30-day home trial from Benchmark. The Serene is almost identical sonically, except for a bit more warmth.

My Schitt Mjolnir v3 is a Class A preamp and it is rather good, better than the 07x for me. It has no remote and is very warm. I do not like it paired with the #16, It is too much of a good thing, but I think a lot of others would like it over the LA4 and Serene paired with the #16.

The thing with the LA4 and Serene is that the other components really dictate how your system will sound. For example, the CODA #16 system is not that great with the warm-ish Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC. However, it is amazing with the more neutral Yggi+ OG DAC.

BTW - I mistakenly thought your amp was the CODA #16. I had the NAD M22 v2 in the house for 30-days paired with the LA4. I hated the sound and luckily was able to return it.