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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
johnah5 OP
234 posts
 

Hey charliee,

That’s a great question. It depends on what speakers I’m using with S5.5 in the system. For example the Musician Audio’s Knight 1 speaker is a great two-way design that has a touch of overall warmth/fullness. Therefore, I like the synergy with the S5.5 being driven with either the Coda 07x or SPL Elector which are more neutral with this speaker that does not need more warmth. When I use the S5.5 with my NSMT Clairvoyant / System two which are more neutral/transparent then I like the touch of warmth that the tube based AricAudio Motherload adds using 6SN7 tubes. Remember, the S5.5 is brilliantly transparent and will pass on the signature of your source and preamplifier, so matching this to your speakers is based on your personal taste.

Teajay

vinylvalet
880 posts
 

Straight wire with gain as we say in the industry. The ultimate design goal.

vinylvalet
880 posts
 

I should have clarified; that's the engineering community.

In the audiophile community, it's usually straight wire as tone control. LOL.

vinylvalet
880 posts
 

Terry knocks another one out of the park. Nicely written review. Thanks.

hickamore
633 posts
 

The S5.5 supposedly doubles power at 4 ohms AND REDOUBLES AT 2 OHMS. Sounds perfect for nominal 4ohm speakers with impedance dips in the bass?

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