Could have been the speakers. Spoke with Aric and he says he doesn’t see anything in the specs that would be a problem with the preamp
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)
530 responses Add your response
@snapoli2 I saw your post comparing the #16 with the S5.5. What speakers did you compare the 2 amps with? I also recently heard the Luxman m10x and thought it was very similar to the #16, |
@evank Was the Coda a bad match with the Aric, or a bad match with your speakers? |
@evank Wondering about your impressions of the S5.5 in tandem with the Aric Super 6SN7. For me the CODA did not pair well with Schiit Freya+ 6SN7, but that is a cheaper preamp. For now I am using SS pre with mind and eyes open to another tube trial if persuasively recommended. |
Has anyone experienced a channel drop out when powering-on the amp? The other day when I turned it on, the blue lights came on as usual then the left light went out and the sound of static began to grow from the left speaker. I quickly powered it down. Waited a minute and started it again. Worked fine this time. |
@5560 I did replace the main fuses, there are actually 2 12 Amp fuses in the back, not one. I did notice a nice improvement in the sound. I really like the Acme Audio Labs fuses, they sound great and are much cheaper than the SR fuses I used to use. I actually think they sound better than the SR Orange fuses. They sell for $29 each and the company has great customer service, would highly recommend trying a couple and see what you think. |
I’ve experienced a lift sound quality by replacing factory fuses. There is a 12 amp fuse for main power supply, in the back of the S5.5. Four other fuses are on top of the circuit boards inside the amp. Replacing all five fuses would be prohibitively expensive. I’m wondering if anyone has replaced just the back fuse and experienced a bump up in sonics? Hopefully the four internal board fuses have less effect on sound. |
I also have an S5.5 and it doesn't matter which way you do it, but know that tracks that have specific right and left channel content will be reversed. Knowing that and then hearing it myself... I just couldn't do it. Those songs just don't sound correct any more, but I'm pretty OCD with that kind stuff. |
@evank Yes you will also need to switch input cables as well. I just ignore what it says on the back and put the left speaker cable and input cable on the left side and the right ones one the right side when looking at the amp from the front. When I asked Doug about this he said it was fine. |
@teajay do you have any insight into the S20 model other than it being an A/B design? Trying not to heat up my small listening space in pure class A. Thanks |
sim_audio_nerd55 posts Just got my Coda S5.5...havent taken it out yet..will do this weekend..
The manual online the speaker terminals seems to be opposite..the left channel terminals are on the right and same for the right channel.. Do I just ignore it? Put the left speaker cables to the left amp terminals and so on? minatophase330 posts @sim_audio_nerd Yes just ignore it. Put left speaker cables of left side when looking at the amp. I asked Doug about this and he said this is the way some older amps used to be labeled. Not sure why they did it that way only for the S5.5 but they did.
I called Doug today and he told me the same thing, but this can't be correct. The only way this would be right would be if you also switch the left and right input cables. If you use a test track it will show left channel on right and right channel on left. |
Maybe I’m naive, but this is the first time I’ve heard that the major mags require you to do paid advertising to get reviewed. Other than one manufacturer apparently suggesting this, is their other evidence confirming this is the case? It sounds like a pretty serious charge to be making or repeating without such evidencr. To be clear, I hold no brief for the major mags, but would just like to know if what is suggested in this thread is correct. |
I have been holding out purchasing electronics for my recently acquired Focal Sopra 3's. Have read a lot about the Coda value for the $. Am wondering if anyone has matched either of the more budget versions of Coda with Focal Sopra 3's. I"m considering the following: Coda S5.5 with a matched Coda preamp, or CSIB Hegel 590 600 Gryphon 120 |
@evank which preamp will you use?? |
Terry is indeed correct. I have the amp and it may be the best 6k Ive spent on solidstate. For context I had the 16 and I - in my room with my ears - feel like the S5.5 bests it in every way. Imaging rythym nuance and dynamic expression are out of this world. The only amp Ive personally owned that I feel was “better” by a slight margin was the luxman M10x. But only slightly and that’s a $20k amp. Bravo CODA. Instant classic. |
Totally agree, they are very, very bright. I just bought a pack of Black LED Light Dimming Stickers for less than five dollars and they work really well and don't really detract from the aesthetics of the 5.5. The pack comes with many sizes and shapes, so it's easy to find ones that fit nicely. Hope that helps. |
Well mine is for sale. It is a good amp, but for my ears the AGD Tempo and AtmaSphere D mono amps have a more transparent, dimensional, and liquid midrange with better control over the low frequencies and better rendering of textures. The S5.5 gets the nod in the high frequencies. This driving CS Caladans, Fyne F1-8s, KEF Reference 1, and Maggie LRS+. Not a negative comment, but given the glowing reports I was a bit disappointed. My 2¢, my 2 ears, and my 2 remaining brain cells. |
Hey Everybody, Just received three more Emails from Gon members who have bought the S5.5 in the last month or so who are enthralled with its performance, and appreciated the information on this thread and the Stereo Times review that lead to their purchase. So far I have not talked one listener that had even one negative comment on this amplifier. Teajay |
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@markmuse Although the S5.5 is listed as one of many "instant ship" items from Destination, on Monday 6/24 I got this confirmation from James: "there is (not "we have"') a silver S5.5 unit that is scheduled to ship next Tuesday (meaning 7/2)." At this point I can't tell whether it is coming direct from factory, or is a floor demo being spruced up, or just what. No response to inquiry thus far, although in fairness James is a very busy guy, constantly doing setup for big names in the music biz. So, best guess as of today: somewhere around 2 weeks. |
@hickamore What is the wait these days? |
@markmuse Turns out there is a Widex dealer near me and will call them tomorrow, thanks! And I should have thought not to discuss marketing in the forum. Just spotted your unit online, questions answered. Though too late for me personally as I put a new one on order several days ago. |
@hickamore I am driving some Legacy Focus XD's with the 5.5 effortlessly FWIW. Because of my hearing and need for hearing aides I try to keep the volume 75-85 dB SPL. I used to have to listen louder but now I can hear more of what's in the recording without the extra volume. |
@hickamore At least in WV when I got mine I had to purchase from an authorized audiologist. They were not available otherwise. And there is some very sophisticated software they use to set them up. The user software for your phone is pretty lame, useable but relatively unsophisticated. You better contact me outside of this environment to pursue the 5.5. Otherwise the heavy hand of the moderators will likely activate. It is listed in one of the common platforms. |
@markmuse Audiologists: yes, been down that road. They have no clue. But looks like I can buy direct with no prescription (as I gather insurance doesn't cover). Did you buy online or for a dealer? Thanks in any case as I was having no luck finding guidance for audio listening purposes. Coda S5.5 -- wow, you preferred the tiny AGD Tempo? I know nothing about it except what I just read. Where are you listing the 5.5, and for what price, if I might ask? Must be burned in, but only lightly used, and with plenty transferable warranty remaining?
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@hickamore Widex Moment. But they are half the battle. The other half is the audiologist. Don't hesitate to lean on them... they are supposed to be working for you. They tend to think they know what you need better than you do, and they resist being pushed into what for them is unknown territory. Ps, my 5.5 is now listed. |
@hickamore You're welcome. After doing a lot of research, Widex appears to be the top choice among music lovers and musicians. They are certainly an improvement over my previous expensive hearing aids, Siemens Signia. I hope they work out well for you. |
Two somewhat related points. One, Terry's now-published review fails to mention that the Coda S5.5 supposedly runs 40W Class A into 4 ohms. As a user of 4 ohm Legacy speakers, which are known to have a couple of impedance dips, I ordered this amp for its high current, but am eager to learn whether I can hear the bias shifting into AB. The majority of my serious listening is done at average 85dB with peaks at 95. |
@johnah5 That was not much, my Supratek Cabernet uses 152 watts and my belles SA30 uses 354 watts!!! Makes me wonder if the S5 has sliding bias into ab early ? |
@fthompson251 Yes they do. They are not listed on the website yet but reach out to Jeff and you can order them. He is offering both XLR and RCA. I am very happy with the RCA's. I will either order a set of the XLR's or speaker cables next, not sure which one. |
@minatophase3 Silversmith makes Fidelium interconnects now? I have the speaker cables. |
@vinylvalet My hearing must be worse than yours. Without my hearing aids everything is dark and heavily muffled. I have Widex Moment. All in all, I think they are pretty good, and dramatically better the the other two brands I had before them. My gripe is that aids and audiologists are aimed at voices, as if that is the only important thing we use our ears for. I spend far more time listening to music than I do talking with others, something on the order of 95% to 5%. And when I am outside I want to hear the sounds of nature in all its glory, without hype and without the sound of bird chirps causing pain. |
@markmuse I also ended up with an upper end Widex pair after living with another brand. After dicking around with these for over a year, I prefer listening without them. I'd rather not have the higher frequencies compared to crappy sounding higher frequencies. LOL, same. Fairly useless in that regard. Just guessing but I think if you had healthy ears, you would prefer the S5.5. I have a very nice modern class D amp and I think I know what you mean. Thanks for posting your impressions. |
@markmuse , Thank You sir! I commented and have a bunch of questions - sorry in advance 😁 |
@milpai I did it. Thanks!
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