Review on Coda Technologies 16 Amplifier went live today

For the money, there may be no better option, though many would state my Krell DUO 300 XD might sound as good or better.

When I heard the CODA #16 I thought it sounded a lot like my KRELL DUO 175XD. The 175XD cannot go down into 2 Ohm as strongly as the CODA. I heard a bit of that when I had my Thiel CS3.7 speakers and thought the CODA #8 drove them harder.

I liked the Benchmark AHB2 and the KRELL DUO 175XD overall more than the CODA #8 with the Thiel CS3.7. The CODA #16 is sonically a slightly cooler 175XD and slightly warmer AHB2. A real great amp. If I owned the CODA #16 when I had the hard to drive Thiel CS3.7 I am 100% sure it would have been my favorite on the Thiel.

With regards, to the dealer. The fact that he likes the PASS more than the KRELL means he prefers a different sound than me. So I really do not take his opinion to match my tastes. Different strokes. An amp that is warm is really not my personal preference. The KRELL XD does a great job of not going over my warm threshold.

Luckily for me, if needed, I have an ’extra’ KRELL 175XD amp that I can use temporarily with the Blade 2 Meta while I go and listen to the i400.

Walter Schofield and Dave Goodman helped me select the 175XD for the Thiel CS3.7. Very helpful and KRELL also made me a custom power cord for the 175XD.

I have been watching this for a while, but wanted to wait for the i400.

Krell Solo 375 XD For Sale - US Audio Mart

I know Walter very well and have met David. Stand up guy Walter is 100%. He is no longer at Krell, sadly. I checked out that listing and the MSRP is actually less than the new price of $11,250 each or 22.5k for the pair. I get that you cannot get more than 600wpc with that 575 XD. But do you really NEED more than 600 wpc?  At 14K all in for those 575 mono blocks that’s a steal. And I believe warranty is transferrable. Talk to Dennis at Leesburg Listening Room in VA. He’s also a dealer for Bryston and Bricasti. I think he’d tell you that the 575 XD mops the floor with that Bryston unit that puts out 1000 wpc. And I don’t know Bricasti gear at all. It recall him saying it (575 XD) was as good as anything he’d ever hesrd and assume he was including those very pricey Bricasti amps. The M28 are rated @ 400 wpc into 4 ohms and retail for 30,000. They (Krell 575) are likely to sound as good if not somewhat better the No 16 but in all fairness I’ve never heard one. I DO know that Krell is killing it with their 300i.  Can’t make them fast enough. And I don’t think ANYONE is making a better multi channel amp than Krell.I have their Chorus 5200 and it’s amazing.
 

Happy to know you’ve dug the 175 XD. I LOVE my 300XD and will likely hang tight until and when I can HEAR a No 16. That said, if I had the space to accommodate those two mono blocks for only 14K they’d have been bought by now, FOR SURE. It wouldn’t bother me if I subsequently heard the i400 and found that it were perhaps “2%” better or something nominal like that. No way is it gonna sound 10% better, IMHO. Dennis has heard. He could tell you. -:) 

Hey, yyzsantabarbara! For your benefit to assist you in your decision making process I am pasting in this comment on Krell mono blocks you’re considering. This comes from a moderator on a FB Krell member group. 
 

“I have a pair of Solo 375 XD’s and despite them not having a crazy oversized power supply as typical in older Krell models, they are performers and can handle most anything you throw at them. Controlled and accurate bass, warm mids and highs. Non-fatiguing.

In fact, I MIGHT be on the verge of buying a pair of 575 XD’s to biamply my Egglestonworks Viginti. 575 XD’s on bass with 375 XD’s on the mids and highs.

All connected via CAST.

I would not go down the line to anything else, personally. XD is currently they best sounding amps Krell has made, to date.” 
 

good luck to you in your decision process. 

@krell_fan1 Thanks for the contact info on Dennis. I spent an hour in conversation with him. We agreed for the most part, except his opinion that the CODA #16 was slightly warmer than the KRELL. I thought the KRELL was slightly warmer than the CODA though I only heard the #16 for a bit and owned the CODA #8.

He said the KRELLL 375XD monos would be killer on the Blade 2 Meta, better than the KRELL 175XD I have in the house (power wise). He also said the CODA #16 would be killer on the Blade 2 Meta, but a bit warmer than the KRELL.

I was very impressed by this guy. Thanks for the contact info.

You bet!  Dennis is one of the single, most knowledgeable and reputable authorities on high end audio I’ve ever spoken with, and his views issue from a world of experience selling nothing but the finest components. I don’t believe he has a dog in the fight and speaks from the heart. I hope this was helpful to you! 
 

Cheers,