I have no personal experience with the Serene or the MicroZOTL (though I considered it), but the Rhumba Extreme 1.4 is the real deal. In the end I chose the Aric Audio Motherlode XL, but it was not an easy decision....it's really good.
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)
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@jceahodges I also have the Spring 3 KTE Dac and a friend of mine has the Serene pre-amp. Once I get the S5.5 I will have him bring over the Serene to see how it does with the S5.5. Will report my findings. |
@minatophase3 The Holo Serene Coda S5.5 pairing would be very interesting. Please do share your impressions when you try them together. |
I had the CODA 07x with the #8. It was not my personal favorite. I am not a huge tube fan. Though my headphone amp is an incredible tube amp (RAAL VM-1a). I changed to the Holo Serene and the CODA #16. This combo is perfect for my ears with the Magnepan LRS+. I have also used the Benchmark LA4 with the #16 and loved it too. It is slightly less warm than the Serene. I like both preamps with the #16, but if I could trade my Serene for a Benchmark HPA4 I would since I would like BALANCE control in my office preamp. I cannot move the Serene to where the LA4 is used (space issues). Unfortunately, I do not have the shipping box for the Serene. Both of these preamps do not add much to the sound and are utterly quiet.
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@yyzsantabarbara my fiend also had the Benchmark preamp prior to the Serene. Wonderful preamp and adds very little coloration to the music. Unlike you, I prefer a warmer sound. I am going to give the Accuphase a fair trial and if that doesn't produce the sound I like I will probably end up with the 07x for the exact reasons you didn't like it 😀. Nice thing about this hobby is there are so many excellent choices for every taste. |
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