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.
Remember, for certain people not having meters would be a deal breaker! That's why the meters are an option. I ordered my #16 without meters, because I too I'm not attracted to them. The S5.5 does not have the meters, just a half inch attractive engraved faceplate.
I do not experience that the S5.5 sounds like its big brother #16. It has the virtues of the other Coda amplifiers and then adds on a sense of overall aliveness/transient speed and the best top end of any solid state amplifier I have heard in my system. It sounds different then either the #8 or #16, which are both great in their own right, and is turning out to possibly be my favorite of all the Coda amplifiers.
Of the list of amplifiers you mention in your post, which are the "cream of the crop" in solid state Class A amplifiers, I have heard them and still would argue that the S5.5 competes with them easily for far less money.
To be quite frank, Coda does not spend their money either to get reviews in the magazines (the payola is that you have to sign up for very expensive advertising for a period of time) and does not get rooms at great expensive at shows. They have been in business very successfully for close to 30 years because of the best endorsements of all, "word of mouth".
This is one reason, in my opinion, that Coda builds superlative preamps and amplifiers that compete with any solid state gear, regardless of price, for very reasonable prices compared to other companies. I have written reviews on Coda's FET 07x preamplifier, #8 amplifier, #16 amplifier, and will shortly be writing the review on the S5.5 amplifier for Stereo Times. All these pieces offer reference level performance and I purchased the FET 07x and #16 for my systems.
Stereo Times isn’t popular enough for you? I heard there is a forthcoming review, lol.
I’d pay to take the meters off, otherwise I’d have to tape them over. Don’t need spot lights burning into my retinas. But I’m the kind that turns the fireplace off because it is too bright.
However, a credible review that directly compared current Coda to Pass, Gryphon, Vitus or any other class A amps would be very desirable. Terry has some Pass amps so I’m looking forward to his comments regarding the S5.5. Others have told me that the S5.5 sounds more like the 16.0 than the #8.
My speakers are 99db sensitive horn type with 15” woofers. Large amps are too loud on the lowest volume control settings. Finding quality in a smaller package is important for me. The Pass XA 25, Coda S5.5, Vitus SIA integrateds, Gryphon Essence and possibly Westminster REI have been on my radar. A bit of a price spread in this list. Already have an 8 watt SET, but want an SS amp alternative.
So I’m somewhat intrigued by the various Coda amps - but- how come there aren’t any reviews in Stereophile, Absolute Sound, Ultra , Audiophiliac etc. ? Can’t find any in any "popular" reviewing source? Also, they charge 3k for adding meters to their larger amp ??? Really?
I believe that the S5.5 has a better top end and slightly more midrange transparency/clarity then the #8. Unless you need the extra power of the #8 I would chose the S5.5. I have tried the S5.5 with different speakers and have had no problems reaching high dB levels without attenuation/distortion at all.
@johnah5 sonically what separates the new 5.5 and the #8? They are relatively close in price. I’m curious as to what would prompt one to select one vs the other.
Yes, I have tried it with several preamps (SS/tube) single ended or balanced with great success. The S5.5 passes on very clearly what "flavor" each line-stage is providing.
Regarding your question about the history of the current S5.5 I recommend that you contact Doug, I'm sure he would be more then happy to provide the details you are seeking, before I give information that might be incomplete.
Don't know what speakers you run, but so far I have tried four different pairs of speakers and the S5.5 makes all them shine with great dynamics and musicality.
Does the S5.5 have a preamp preference? Tube, SS, SE, balanced? I know you have a few on hand. Maybe you have rolled them?
This “model” has been around for a long time. First as the S5 and now the S5.5. AFAIK, it received upgraded parts around 2019. Do you think it has been upgraded again?
Does anyone else know the story with the upgrade status? I haven’t reached out to Coda. I don’t want to bother them if others have already.
On paper it looks like a good amp for my speakers. Just looking for a few opinions/answers before I do anything.
I have no idea what you are talking about. The inputs and speaker wire terminals are symmetrically laid out. The left channel is on the left side and the right channel is on the right side.
Teajay
He may be referring to this in the manual. Probably just a misprint. It’s also true you can just use inputs / speaker outputs however you want... they don’t know their given names. 🏁
I have no idea what you are talking about. The inputs and speaker wire terminals are symmetrically laid out. The left channel is on the left side and the right channel is on the right side.
Ok it’s $6500, what I find totally off is from the front the left channel should be left and right is right ,instead you. Have to bring the speaker cable totally across the amplifier on both sides ,that doesnot make an6 sense .I have owned many amplifiers I just looked on their website Backwards ?I have awg9 thick speaker cables it’s reverse logic.
No your question is a fair and good one. I suggest you give a shout out to Doug Dale regarding why he did not change the name of the amplifier from S5.5 to S5.6.
Congrats you own a great amplifier. I do believe the S5.5 is pure class A, not a sliding bias design, It runs around 110 to 115 degrees, warm but not wickedly hot.
The S5.5 that is being built now has new parts and a redesigned front end. That's why I referred to it as "new". Totally agree that Coda is one of the finest American amplifier companies that build great pieces at very fair prices.
The #16 is much cleaner sounding on the top end vs the #8 V1, which I also owned. The #16 is the strongest amp for bass that I owned. I would think that the cleaner top end is what this S5.5 would offer vs the #8.
I did a listening test with the #16 vs the Benchmark AHB2 last weekend. The #16 was better on the mid and the highs on every track with my current setup. However, on 1 track, Sympathy for the Devil by the Stones. My musician friend told me that the AHB2 had better articulation of the bass. He said the CODA did not get the bass correct on that track (it got a little confused). However, on everything other track the #16 was great on all areas. The AHB2 also got some microphone placement correct vs the CODA.
He normally HATES the AHB2, but I think he came away surprised at the potential it has. When I get a warmer DAC, PlayBack Designs Dream, we will do another listening session with the 2 amps.
For the longest time, I found the CODA #16 a little lacking on the top end, that was until last week when I replaced my speaker cable with Audience FrontRow. Now I have no issues with the #16. I also use my too hot Benchmark DAC3B with the #16, which seems to work well.
This is a bit of a contrarian view, but there are tons of other posts saying different things than I am about the #16. The S5.5 looks like the baby brother.
What makes the Coda S5.5 better than the much more expensive #16 that has 100 watts of class A. BTW I own the Coda #8 that has the first 18 watts in Class A for the V1 that I own. Beautiful amp with massive current!
Have the S5.5, love it, can’t believe the price/performance value on offer, $6K new 10 year warranty 45 lbs only runs warm not hot and yes drives everything with ease.
My understanding is that it is sliding bias not "pure" Class A which makes sense given it runs warm not hot, but I defer to Terry on this as I’m not in contact with the factory.
Terry, how new is the S5.5 actually? And is there a better value US hifi gear manufacturer than CODA?
Your Pass Labs XA30.8 is a great amplifier. I would say the major differences between the XA30.8 and the S5.5 are, 1) The top end is more airy/extended/detailed on the S5.5 without being etched or bright in tone. 2) The S5.5 has a faster more alive sounding presentation then your Pass Labs. Both are great, but slightly different.
I have the #16 and another person and I did some listening with various gear and the #16. We felt that a brighter DAC such as the Benchmark DAC3B cut through the Class A warmth of the #16 nicely.
Would love to hear it. I'm sure it's fantastic. I am very happy with my Pass XA30.8 but how would you describe the differences between the two, Teajay?
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