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SIMPLY AMAZING: Coda Technologies 07x Preamplifier

I have in-house Coda Technologies 07x preamplifier, which is the latest iteration of their '0' series linestages.  Very briefly, over the last seven years I have had over five solid state preamplifiers, price range was between 4K to 20K, in for auditioning in my system.  They were quite good, but lacked what my tube based linestages had to offer.  The solid state pieces were wickedly transparent, micro-detailed, tight accurate bass extension, and had great overall dynamics.  However, they lacked the organic timbres/tonality, 3D imaging, and the ability to create a sense of space between the players that my tube based preamplifiers produced in my system. 

So, I was concerned that based on my personal preferences that the Coda 07x might not be my "sonic cup of tea".  Boy was I wrong!  Besides, the superlative build quality, starting with the double-sided gold-plated circuit boards, and the sane prices Coda charges compared to other much more insanely priced gear, the 07x is priced at $6'500, this preamplifier has patiently shocked me regarding it might be the best synthesis between what solid state offers (transparency-clarity/low frequency extension-control/micro-details/speed-dynamics) and the best of what tubes have to offer (pristine timbres-tonality-color/holographic imaging/three-dimensional sound-staging with a sense of air around the individual instruments).

Coda always, at least in the America "flies under the radar" compared to other US manufacturers, but based on performance, build quality, and  smart evolved engineering they offer cutting edge equipment at reasonable prices that deserve to be heard by more music lovers. I'll get into all the little details in my review on the performance of the 07x, but for right now if you are thinking about purchasing a solid state linestage, consider giving Doug Dale a call to hear this very special piece.
teajay

Showing 8 responses by audiozen

audiozen
831 posts
 
teajay...Have you experienced over the years the Spectral DMC-6 or the Spectral DMC-10. I have only heard the 10 and I have yet to come across
a solid state Preamp over the past twenty five that equals the rich, very smooth velvet quality that I've heard from that piece.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Now that is very interesting. You really got my attention and if that is truly the case, that would be a first since the Spectral's. Do you have plans to film and record in high quality audio and upload on YouTube?
audiozen
831 posts
 
teajay..forgot to ask regarding the volume control. Back in the 90's I purchased Coda's budget preamp, the Continuum  from Legacy. When you would push in the volume knob in the gain would reverse to maximum
level with the volume knob set to minimum. One afternoon, I was walking back to my home, I got within a half a block and the sound from my system was at maximum volume and you could hear the sound all over the neighborhood. Turns out while I was gone, there was a short power failure in the building, when the power came back on it snapped the gain into reverse. Could never figure out why Eric would do that to a preamp for the home since that is a feature with pro gear. Does the 07X have a dual or single gain design?
audiozen
831 posts
 
teajay..no need to get back to me. Spoke to Doug and the pics of the 07x
on the Coda site with the separate faceplate end caps was one of the first ten models and the current version is single piece faceplate end to end which looks a lot better. 
audiozen
831 posts
 
And its available in silver or black.
audiozen
831 posts
 
teajay..I checked a picture online of the 07x in silver. The faceplate and the front panel end caps are all one sheet of metal. The black version front end caps are separate pieces attached to the left-right ends of the faceplate. The silver looks much better with a single sheet. Is that silver version available or is it a beta model?
audiozen
831 posts
 
Since I'm recovering from surgery I have spent quite a bit of time exploring the 07X and came to the decision this morning that the Coda is my final choice instead of Spectral as I slip into retirement. I downloaded last night high quality HD pics of the 07X and I must say it is truly a work of art inside and out. As far as the face-plate design, best I have ever seen in thirty years, (IMHO). Coda has really hit a grand slam with this masterpiece. I noticed to the left front of the board platform that there is a second circuit board stacked above the main lower board which takes up about 40% of the board area. One common design theme I have noticed over the years with the cream of the crop circuit engineers is the simplicity of their board designs with signal path layouts that are works of art that are untouchable which is why they achieve such magnificent performance from lightweight designs as compared to other companies engineers that struggle with much heavier preamp designs attempting to achieve the same results, but never get it right and they wind up with the MK2 version and then the MK3 version etc..etc..the 07X...a no brainer.
audiozen
831 posts
 
@mrdecibel ..Correct, I do listen, just got off the pain killers and back in focus. Having owned a Coda Continuum Preamp in the past, and familiar with the sonic character as warm and well balanced but no 3D imaging that grabs your attention, I thought the 07X would achieve that and recently listened to an HD video on YouTube of the Coda 07X Pre and the Coda 15.5 stereo amp hooked up to a pair of Legacy Focus XD speaker's and the sound was good but no cigar. Very forward and dimensional. Listened to an eight minute variation of Brubecks' "Take Five". Sounds like good solid state but no "tube character" that would float your boat. From a practical point of view I would hesitate buying the 07X and its hard to get around the very high price tag for a unit that weighs eleven pounds. Just based on what I heard the Spectral DMC-10 sounds much smoother than the Coda. For the money, the Preamp to beat that performs as good or better than Preamps in the $20K to $30K range is the Wyred4Sound STP-SE Stage 2 Upgrade.
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