Review on Coda Technologies 16 Amplifier went live today

The SNR of the #8 is 116 and the #16 is 130.

I am thinking of getting the CODA #8 or #16 to pair with the latest CODA 07x preamp that I own. I am using the dual XLR outputs of the 07x to drive 2 sets of speakers. I have Benchmark AHB2 amps connected to 1 set of 07x output XLRs which drive RAAL SR1a earphones. At the moment , the second set of the CODA 07x output XLR's is connected to a Class D amp driving Thiel CS3.7 speakers. I am thinking of replacing that amp with a CODA #8 or #16.

My question is, since I have to turn OFF 1 amp whenever I want to use the other amp, does a CODA #8 or #16 makes sense. I will be turning the amp ON and OFF every single day. How would the CODA amps tolerate that type of abuse? My D-Sonic M3a 800s Class D amp seems to be OK with the constant ON and OFF and it does sound pretty good.

BTW - the CODA 07x and Benchmark AHB2 are an incredible pairing. My dealer said a few of his customers have this combo. I like it more than the CODA CSiB (from 2018) integrated I owned a few months ago. 

I was just reading Terry's review after my post above. He states the following.

Just below the logo, there are two sets of LEDs/buttons that allowed you to choose between RCA/XLR inputs and to put the amplifier into standby bias.

So I think I can solve my turning ON and OFF issue by just leaving the amp on all the time (or STAND BY) and using the RCA button on the front of the amp to deactivate the amp since the XLR is what is used to connect to the 07x.

I owned the CODA 07x and the CODA #8. I recently sold both from my office sytsem. I liked my Benchmark LA4 preamp better.

I am debating between the following 2 amps for my Livingroom:

- the soon to be released KRELL KSA i400

- CODA #16

I heard the CODA #16 and loved it with a dealers Legacy speakers. We used a CODA 07x preamp in the demo. The CODA #16 is smaller than I expected and does not run that warm. The top end of the #16 was better than the #8. It took me just 1 song to hear the improvement. The #16 is cleaner sounding like a Benchmark AHB2 but with a bit more Class A warmth. The #8 sounds a bit grainier in comparison to the #16.

My CODA #8 was being used as a RAAL SR1a headphone amp and when the RAAL VM-1a dedicated SR1a/CA-1a amp was released I sold the #8 to buy the VM-1a. I thought I would miss the #8 but the VM-1a is incredible and it was a great trade.

I was planning on using the VM-1a in my office but it is too good and I cannot get any work done, so I moved it to my bedroom. I moved my KRELL DUO 175XD amp into the office to function as the headphone amp to the SR1a. I like the KRELL amp more than the #8 for both speakers, and especially for the SR1a headphones. I am less distracted by the KRELL and can get work done. I use Benchmark AHB2 monos for my KEF LS50 Meta in the office. Both the Benchmark AHB2 and KRELL DUO 175XD are driven by a single Benchmark LA4 preamp.

The KRELL DUO 175XD is smoother than the #8 and very relaxing. It is clear on top, smooth, with strong bass, and very relaxing. Some competing sonic characteristics but that is how I hear it. The #8 sounds more Class AB to me than the super smooth Class A KRELL. Don’t get me wrong. I loved the #8 until I got the KRELL DUO 175XD. It just a matter of preference here, not that anything is better.

I also owned the KRELL K-300i integrated amp and I loved that one a lot and upgraded to the KRELL DUO 175XD. I also owned the CODA CSiB integrated amp at the same time as the KRELL K-300i. The CSiB was from 2019, so not the most recent version. I liked the KRELL K-300i more since I liked the smooth sound more than the not as clear CSiB. I sold the CSiB.

My Livingroom system is finalized except for the amp:

- KEF Blade 2 Meta speakers

- Benchmark LA4 preamp (have another LA4 in my office)

- Musetec 005 DAC (have another Musetec 005 in my office)

- either CODA #16 amp or KRELL KSA i400 amp

I want an amp that can double down to 2 Ohm and the KRELL KSA i400 and CODA #16 can do this While the KRELL 300XD and KRELL 175XD cannot. This is my until death system so I want to be done and put audio buying in the rearview mirror.

 

@decooney 

Read the Stereophile review of the KEF Blade 2 Meta using benchmark AHB2 monos. KAL R loved that pairing. I however think it will not be as good. I went through the AHB2 love and hate with my hard to drive Thiel CS3.7. No way I use the AHB2 on the easier to drive KEF Blade 2 Meta.

I read a ASR post of the AHB2 sound (which I love love on the KEF LS50 Meta). That post is how I feel and is written better than I can ever do.

Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp | Page 5 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

I tried the Schitt Freya+ tube preamp for about 2 months with the AHB2 as a RAAL SR1a headphone amp. This was the only preamp that I could use with the AHB2 and bright SR1a.

BTW - I am looking at the $13K CODA #16 without the meters. I had the meters on the CODA #8. They were surprisingly useful with my RAAL SR1a headphones but a non-factor with my Thiel CS3.7 speakers.

@rlovendale I was thinking of 2 #16's in mono but I was wondering if that would be the optimal sound from the #16. I believe most amps (except AHB2) increase distortion and other negative factors when switched from stereo to mono. I will discuss this with Doug Dale at CODA.

My hesitation on the cheaper CODA #16 is the 150 watts vs the 400 watts on the KRELL in stereo form.  In terms of sonics, I know I love the CODA #16 and assume the KRELL KSA i400 will knock my socks off too (based on the KRELL XD lower models I owned).

At this point I am leaning more towards the KRELL but I do not know how it pairs with the KEF Blade 2 Meta. Does that extra power make a difference. I read about a dealer in Redmond, WA that carries both the KEF Blade and KRELL KSA i400 (soon) but not the CODA.

@krell_fan1 I spoke with a KRELL dealer today in WA about the new amp. His partner had demoed the KRELL KSA i400 at a WA show and loved it. The guy I spoke to found the KRELL XD not as warm as he prefers (he is more of a PASS fan). He had not heard the new KRELL i400. I told him the KRELL XD was at the upper limit of warmth for my ears, I do not favor PASS and I love my KRELL 175XD.

We got to talking about different amps for the Blade 2 Meta and I am tending to think that the massive current of the CODA #16 is enough in stereo mode for the Blade 2 Meta. That is at moderate volume I would get a similar sound as a 400 watt amp (maybe the 400 watt KRELL i400 is different)

I may fly up to WA and demo the KRELL i400 with the Blade Meta but the CODA #16 looks like a great choice for the Blade 2 Meta.

The dealer in WA also tried 4 Benchmark mono amps on the KEF Blade Meta. There is a photo of that session on the internet. He preferred the PASS to the mega watt AHB2 setup.

I am going to talk with Doug Dale about what you lose when you go mono with the CODA #16. Something to have in the back pocket if needed.

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

@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.

@smodtactical I did not buy the CODA #16, I instead bought the CODA 07x preamp and CODA #8 amp. I also bought the KRELL Duo 175XD amp. I sold all of that gear, except the KRELL Duo 175XD which went up for sale yesterday. I am going to get another KRELL XD amp with more power. It has not been determined yet by me which KRELL amp to get.

The next KRELL amp will be for KEF Blade 2 META. The other speaker choice was the Yamaha NS5000, which you own. I went with the Blade because I am finally able to fit it into a proper room. The NS5000 would also be great in this room, but I am going with the Blade. A safer choice would be the NS5000 because of my young son, but if the speaker gets damaged, too bad.

The CODA #16 is very similar to the amp I am selling. The Duo 175XD is all Class A, similar to the mostly Class A #16. When I heard the #16 with the CODA 07x preamp I was thinking that sonically it is very similar to the Duo 175XD amp. The #8 and #16 diverge more sonically to my ears.

A shootout between those amps you listed will of course be subjective to listener preference. My preference from those 3 would be the CODA #16. It is not as warm as the other 2 and likely the most powerful. I would still take the KRELL Duo amps over those 3 since they just seem to work best for my ears. Does not mean it is the best.

I have had the KRELL K-300i integrated (an XD amp, now sold) and the KRELL DUO 175XD. The next amp will be my last amp and it will be a KRELL XD.

The system I am putting together for the Livingroom will be:

- KEF Blade 2 Meta (not sure the color)

- KRELL XD amp (not sure the power)

- Holo Audio Serene preamp (similar to my office Benchmark LA4 preamp)

- Musetec 005 DAC (have 2 of these now)

- Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8 speaker cable

My Office system, where the KRELL DUO 175XD was used, is competed and will not be touched.

BTW - the CODA #16 is more than powerful enough for the Blade 2 Meta

The CODA #16 is really an excellent amp. One of the very best amps I have ever heard. It reminded me of my Benchmark AHB2 on the top end, so clean and smooth. I did not spend much time with the #16, though I knew immediately that I preferred it to the #8 that I owned.

The dealer that I am working with for the KEF Blade feels that the CODA is a bit warmer than the KRELL XD amps. I disagree with him on that. The KRELL XD amp is not an amp that I am normally attracted too sonically. However, after owning the K-300i for a year and now the KRELL 175XD (up for sale) I realized that I ALWAYS have a great time listening to music on these amps.

The sound is very smooth, with enough details, and a bit rounder on top. I also think the bass is very strong. The pairing with the new KEF speakers is something that I have done for a year, with LS50 Meta. So I know that is a great pairing. My dealer also says that is how he prefers the Blades paired. So that is why I am going with the KRELL over the CODA.

My office system has Benchmark AHB2 monos and the CODA #16 is also on the neutral side, so the KRELL is a change of pace from that sonic signature. Another reason for getting the KRELL XD for the Livingroom system.

 

 

I would say the 07x is not as nuetral as my preferred Benchmark LA4. I bet the majority opinion would be to favor the 07x over the LA4.

I saw you were asking about preamps in the other thread. I think you will really like the 07x.

For you 07x owners reading this thread. There is a separate power supply upgrade coming out for the 07x. I am sure it will increase the performance. Prior owners can use it, not sure how that would work..

@zlone From what other owner’s have told me about the Holo Audio Serene and also from the measurements. It seems to me very similar to the Benchmark LA4. I have been told the Serene has a touch more warmth.

I can tell you that the LA4 and the CODA #8 were amazing together. I spent a year flipping back and forth between the Benchmark AHB2, Benchmark LA4, CODA #8, and CODA 07x. That is, I used them in various permutations. All combinations of the gear matched so nicely to my ears. I got rid of some of the gear because I thought it was a little to crazy to do this. I only sold the CODA #8 (reluctantly) because I wanted to buy the RAAL VM-1a headphone amp. In hindsight it was a great move.

I also owned the Schitt Freya+ for a few months and I was very happy to find it pairing nicely with my RAAL SR1a headphones and the Benchmark AHB2. I had a tough time making the AHB2 work with the RAAL SR1a, even though the SR1a designer used the AHB2 when developing it. The Freya+ was a great tone control to the bright SR1a and neutral AHB2.

Today, I am using the LA4 and AHB2 monos with the SR1a headphone (on my 2-channel) setup. I cannot believe it works because it was awful before. However, this time I am using the Musetec 005 DAC which seems to be the magic sauce that holds it together. The Musetec 005 is not good with my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp (surprising).

The Blades are a decade+ in the making for me. Either no space, no money, or new baby.

 

 

 

@smodtactical There is a dealer in Winnipeg that sells CODA. I have spoken with him in the past and he maybe willing to send you a demo 07x. 

I was not able to quickly find his contact info in my emails or a search of ad's on USAM. CODA can get you his info and other Canadian dealers.

 

@jaymark the #16 is not big at all. I was really surprised at how small it actually is. It is bigger than the #8 but given the specs of the #16 I thought it would be much bigger.