SIMPLY AMAZING: Coda Technologies 07x Preamplifier
rlovendale - i'm w/you on this one. u-tube is anything but hi-fi. i've been a died in the wool tube guy, especially considering preamps, for ~20 years. fate has conspired, tho, to have me awaiting delivery of a latest-edition-spec coda 07x. a perfect storm, as it were - repair issues w/my beloved 20 year standby, and a decent deal on this unit, where other tubed units would be above my budget. yes, i'm a bit wary, even tho i respect terry and his opinions. and i've heard from an acquaintance of terry's who says that, if anything, terry has understated the sonic abilities of the 07x. but i still have this bias: it's not tubes, so it's gonna be lacking in what terry describes as "pristine timbres-tonality-color/holographic imaging/three-dimensional sound-staging with a sense of air around the individual instruments". my personal tube preamp reference has all that, as well as the "transparency, clarity/low frequency extension-control/micro-details/speed-dynamics" of s/s preamps. so, i'll soon see where this shakes out. holly hippodaze, doug s. |
doug s. I am in limbo right now as I have sold my amplifiers and I am awaiting on a new CODA 15.5 to be delivered hopefully next week. What listening I was able to do before selling my amplifiers gave me a taste of what the pre was all about. I want some more time on it before I am comfortable giving an in depth opinion. What I can say with confidence is this is the first time in a very long time that I was getting all of the detail (micro & macro), space, and richness without something feeling out of balance. I was also able to turn it up without it seeming to be really loud, just more beautiful. I can't wait to pair it with the new amplifier. |
hi all, (and especially those with any 1st hand experience w/the 07x), the preamp arrived; i got it into my system last night; unfortunately i was unable to do much listening, but the initial sonic impressions are positive. i have a question about the gain, though. with my typically louder sources, like my internet tuner and my analog fm tuner, with the 07x’s volume set to ~60, the sound is audible, but quiet. at 75, it’s listenable, but not very loud. and my phono exhibits pretty-much the same, with its gain increased the max 18db, per the 07x’s level-matching for each source. is this normal for this preamp? i’m used to ~50% volume being very loud on all sources, except phono, where ~60-70% volume is very loud. i did notice that, from the tape (processor) out, feeding a 2nd preamp in another room, the volume there is pretty-much the same as always; perhaps a little bit less loud, but not much. thanks, doug s. |
Hey Doug, See if this helps. For almost all the recordings I listen to the range on the digital read out is at least 67 to 84. To get to the "sweet spot" in my system the volume falls somewhere in this range. Therefore I never run out of volume to get to the ultimate dB levels that I would want to listen at. So, yes this is normal for the 07X and quite OK. |
Just got through with bringing the 07x preamplifier to another high-end music listener's house who wanted to try it in his system compared to his highly regarded tube based line-stage. His response was a very big WOW! Not only did it produce more natural colors and tonality then his tube based preamp had in the system, it also was superior in 3D imaging, space between these images, and took the whole system to another level with macro-dynamics and bass extension and control. I think he might be selling off his present preamp to order the 07x linestage. |
Did teajay mention his original reference tube line stage here? If so, I missed it. And why hide or feel shame to list the actual tube line stages that were "outperformed" by the Coda with the big, WOW? From my own experience with going through many tube preamps, line stages and phono stages, in 30+ years, very VERY few have passed the test. And those that have, were with tube rectified and or tube regulated power supplies. This is where the awesome 3D kicks in and I am a huge skeptic that ANY solid state replacement can take on such tube based designs. So come on, tell us what tube products were sent out to pasture. And then we all have a better idea the weight of the reported claims here. Without such a reference, a review just becomes another one of those, "the best I ever heard" conclusions which is meaningless if the comparison products are not listed. |
"So come on, tell us what tube products were sent out to pasture. And
then we all have a better idea the weight of the reported claims here.
Without such a reference, a review just becomes another one of those,
"the best I ever heard" conclusions which is meaningless if the
comparison products are not listed." +1 |
Not to change directions on the subject of the Coda preamp, or intend to put it down in any way, as I have not heard it, but I own a Luminous Audio passive, top of the line, single ended unit. I prefer it, in my system, to any active line stage I have owned, or used. On other threads, active vs. passive, folks did the same thing to me, asking me for the specifics of those active preamps I have used, in which my conclusions were made based on comparisons. I refused to name them, as I respect the manufacturers way too much. This is just one opinion, which is mine, in one system, which is mine. Words in reviews, here, or elsewhere, can be damaging, to items from various manufacturers, and I respect Terry for the same reasons in which I have stood by. I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday. Enjoy ! MrD. |
Hey Jafox, When I write my review for Stereo Times on the 07x linestage, I'll share what specific preamps I compared it to, to come to the conclusion of why it is a benchmark compared to the other pieces. I have had scores of some of the most highly regarded SS and tubed based preamplifiers over the years in my system. So, I'm in a good position to come to a sane conclusion about how high the Coda fits into the patheon of great linestages. |
jafox, if you are a perceptive reader, you should be able to figure out which tube preamp was tj's prior "reference". i suspect it's still nothing to be sneezed at. ;~) and i still was considering it, even after this review; it was only because i was able to get a great deal on a b-stock 07x that made it more affordable than the tuber, that swayed me to get the coda. if i could have gotten a similar deal on the other unit, i likely would have gotten it instead. i'm presently putting my new 07x thru its paces, and yes, it's special. as it's been at least 6 months since my seriously hot-rodded melos ma333r has been in the house, i cannot make a direct comparison there; if i ever get it back, that may happen. but suffice to say, this died-in-the-wool tube preamp aficionado is happy w/the sound of this. i confess i'd prefer a dedicated remote, as the generic remote, while performing all the major tasks adequately, requires you to change screens for the different functions. but honestly, this is a minor quibble, and i suspect a dedicated remote would increase the cost of the unit substantially, for a small mfr like coda. and honestly, how often do you switch sources, w/o going up to your equipment rack anyway? my melos only had remote volume/balance as it is... doug s. |
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Since the review on the 07x went up on Stereo Times I have received numerous Emails regarding how and where to audition the preamplifier. If you live in the Chicago land area you have two choices. You are more then welcomed to come to my home or hear it at Audio Archon (Mike Kay) who is a Coda dealer. We both live about a hour from downtown Chicago. If you live in an area that does not have a Coda retailer, just give Doug Dale a call and he will arrange to get you one for audition. |
Was waiting to see that review. not that i really needed it, My o7x was orderd a couple of days ago Will have to wait for that to come in Also picked up their Tm Mono"s v2 They will be here tomorow, Cant wait to see what they do for my M/L 13a. Doug said this latest run 07x has some new enhancements, Did not say what. Maybe the choice of colors for volume and buttons? Regards, Mike |
Hey fruitloopsr, I use a full loom of Black Cat Coppertone cables with the Coda gear. It sounds great and is unbelievable inexpensive compared to what I used to use in my systems. Besides the 07x, I put on the Stereo Times "Most wanted components of the decade list" these cables, so take a look for a few more details why they made the list. |
riley - in fairness, it's sometimes easire to get a comparison, if one's available, than to "try it yourself". (have you gotten one; i know you've been considering it.) onesign - a reason you may not be getting any replies, besides the fact that no one may know, is perhaps because no one knows for sure what preamp you are talking about? "pre 3"? what is that? afaik, audio research made an sp-3, a reference 3, and an ls3. doug s. |
Regarding the Coda 07x preamp. I just picked one up used. I also recently purchased the Coda 06x phono preamp on a whim. I was pleasantly surprised. Both units are wonderful. Was using a PS Audio Bhk preamp prior to the Coda 07x. The Bhk is still in my possession but may not make it back into the system. I really like the adjustable gain per input. The Coda has some quirks. Remember under the lid of their preamps the output balanced pin positive is adjustable for both usa of European configurations. I was trying to program my harmony remote for the coda. So far no luck. I like to stash the original remote away and allow the harmony remote to taking the beating. |
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hi charlie, sorry for the late response. i still like the 07x very much; i'm now used to the remote and find it satisfactory. i'm still hoping to get my melos back, so i can do a comparison; i was told dec/jan; but haven't heard anything since. wturkey, you may want to find out the mfr date on your 07x; it's my understanding that a not insignificant change was done not too long ago, but there's no model change - older iterations are still called 07x. i also understand that it's not all that expensive to have on older iteration updated. and, you should be able to program your remote as well, since the 07x comes from the factory with a universal mx-450 remote. you may want to contact doug dale from coda. and, since the mx-450 is a universal remote anyway, maybe you shouldn't be so worried about it taking a beating? doug s. |
Hey Mike, I'm really glad that you are enjoying the 07x in your system. Last night I wrote my review for Stereo Times on the Coda 16.0 amplifier. Hopefully, it will be published in the near future. The reason I'm sharing this is the combo of the 07x & 16.0 is creating the best performance I have ever had in my system! Doug and Eric, in this generation of Coda gear has really created something very special and their preamp/amplifier will compete with any equipment regardless of price. |
A quick follow up on the Coda 07X. this is and has remained my preamp in the main system. I also added a coda 10.5r to run the top half of my Legacy speakers. For now, I am seeking no changes. sedond, I contacted Coda a while back inquiring about an upgrade for my 07X. Coda stated that there was an upgrade available for my 07x. However, at this time, they were not performing the upgrades. So, I let it be. I'm happy with the sound the way it is. The BHK has been demoted to the second system. The BHK is no slouch, but there is something about that Coda equipment...... |
hi
smodtactical, mark porzilli and his partner have been threatening to return my melos any day now - for about the past 6 weeks. ;~) i am hoping to do a comparison if/when i ever get it back. meanwhile, the 07x is getting the job done - it does sound lovely. wturkey - i'm surprised to hear that coda aren't modding the earlier 07x's; it's my understanding that it's not a difficult mod. maybe they're too busy? maybe they believe it negatively affects sales of the new model? i'd query them again, about when they might be willing to offer it, and/or if there's another tech that can offer it. doug s. |
