2. amps-preamps
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The new Coda S5.5 amplifier: It's a "Petite Beast"!

I have in-house the New Coda Technologies S5.5 amplifier for review for Stereo Times website. It will be awhile before I write the review. However, I'm so impressed by the performance of this petite amplifier, it only weights 45 pounds, that I wanted to give a heads up to you GON members if you are in the market for a balanced pure class A amplifier, delivers 50 watts @ 8 Ohms, and can drop 100 Amperes of current on a peak!

The world class build quality of Coda amplifiers is on display with the S5.5, along with the most beautiful purity of tonality, precise sound-staging, complete liquidity offered by pure class A design, and what might be the best top end regarding details, decays, and a natural shimmering without brightness or any edge at all.

The S5.5 uses extremely wide bandwidth output transistors instead of the usual TO3 devices used in most transistor designs. I own the Coda #16, which is great, but the midrange/high end is taken to another level of musical enjoyment with the S5.5. The S5.5 has a sense of speed/aliveness that is exciting to listen to that you experience in live music. The amp is dynamic as hell, has driven with ease any speaker I have tried it with, hence my nickname of the "Petite Beast". Remember, 50 watts pure class A, can drop 100 amperes of current and only weights 45 pounds.

Teajay (Terry London)

johnah5
minatophase3
30 posts
 

@fthompson251 Congratulations, I know it has been a long wait.  Looking forward to hearing what you think about it once it arrives.

vinylvalet
880 posts
 

Right on, Fred!!!

johnah5 OP
234 posts
 

Hey Guys,

My Stereo Times review should be posted the beginning of next week. I have a section were I include many of your superlative remarks regarding the S5.5's performance, build quality, and cost vs performance ratio.

Thanks to all of you who have shared, and will be looking forward to Fred's remarks!

Teajay (Terry London)

vthokie83
734 posts
 

Thanks for the update Terry, really looking forward to reading your review.....should be outstanding

markmuse
263 posts
 

Received mine today. Jeez, right out of the box it sounded great. Interesting comparison with my AGD Tempo. Sonically the Coda has better micro and global dynamics; is more nuanced; has better imaging depth; and just sounds more musical / real. None of this is a vast difference, but there clearly is a difference. Keep in mind this is the first version of the Tempo. There is an update which I will get. 

Regarding the 5.5’s power into 4 ohms, the Tempo is rated 200 into 4, 100 into 8, yet I have the volume control lower on my preamp into the Coda for the same subjective output volume. And it seems to advance volume more rapidly than into the Tempo. I’m not technical with electronics, so who knows. Maybe the Coda has more input sensitivity (balanced input). But there certainly is plenty of power going into my Caladans.

One criticism - the indicator lights are way too bright. I’ve had to cover them. 

My system: Aurender n200, PS Audio DSD Mk2, Backert Labs Rhythm 1.3, Coda S5.5 / AGD Tempo, Clayton Shaw Caladans / Fyne F1-8, and a sub.

 

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