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Focal Kanta 2 and CODA 16 amp

Hello All,
My audio system was sounding really good but I felt the need to go further and recently upgraded a McIntosh MC152 amp to a Coda 16. What was missing? A certain bit of clarity, the ability to place instruments in the soundstage, and an amp that is consistent in quality with the rest of my equipment.

McIntosh is one of the amplifiers that pairs well with my Focal Kanta 2s. I thought about a more powerful McIntosh but didn’t go there, heard a Luxman M900u in a dealer’s showroom that was OK, but a demo of the Coda turned my head. The Coda is an eye-opener in the clarity and power it brings to the system, but it has thrown the balance off. I am now struggling to overcome some brightness with certain music (not all), a slight edge that I had previously managed to defeat by changing cables, rolling tubes in my preamp and adding the Mac.

My listening space is not ideal and can use acoustic treatment to tame the highs, but things sounded pretty good before. The focus and bulk of time (say 85%) is with home theatre, but when I play two channel, I want it to be high quality. An obvious path is to correct my mistake, sell the Coda and look elsewhere.  Another alternative is to keep this excellent amp and get a different (warmer?) preamp to better match the Coda (must have HT bypass and XLR connections), or perhaps something like a MiniDSP with Dirac to tweak the sound. I'm even contemplating warmer speakers to replace the Kantas, but that means three speakers (L/C/R) for home theatre.

I appreciate any words of wisdom or solace from Kanta and/or Coda owners on a strategy to manage this issue. Thanks,
Robert

traubr
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,003 posts
 

Yep I’ve mumbled “wtf” many times after power outage or after turning it off for few days. Volume 50 is a safety net. It’s about where you will be running it direct into amp for normal listening.
 

For the MA3i upgrade they upped the output voltage. Amadeus mentioned it to me when I spoke with him. The 97 on volume control is about where the MA3 was (according to me). It may chill things a bit. Try. 
 

traubr OP
90 posts
 

I gave the lower volume trick a whirl and it was a big success, enough so that I think it unnecessary to send the preamp to Backert to adjust the gain.  I've fiddled with it and 80 is a good measure where instead of 2 clicks on the Backert remote (or the dial if I get off my butt) now requires 4 or 5, which provides finer adjustments and help control the overall sound.  I'll ratchet back to, say, 70 and see what that brings (away for a few days, that trial will have to wait).  What a great fix, and thanks for that.  New tubes and interconnects are coming next week, eager to see if they help.  If not... I'm preparing Plan B.  Thanks for the support,

Robert

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,003 posts
 

Great hear it helped!
Try different volume levels on the Meitner and see what matches the backert best for your system. Amplifier is a major factor in the sound of a system and I’m not surprised to see additional changes as a domino effect. You’re on the right track though. 

traubr OP
90 posts
 

@axo0oxa 

Michael, I'm having all kinds of problems responding to your message (verification nonsense) but wanted to thank you for your suggestions.  I will follow up with Andy, armed with your experience.  Best,

Robert

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,085 posts
 

Unfortunately, I’m wearing off the polish on the hardwood floor...

I think that may be a source of some of your brightness. Can’t see your sidewalls from your picture, but address all sources of first reflections if you have really hot tweeters- sidewalls, ceiling, backwall and floors. I see a thin carpet on the floor but not sure if that is in "the way" of your tweeters. Just try and throw down a few thick towels on the floor halfway to your seating position and see if that helps? Ceiling would be harder laugh edit: I see you already tried some of this with the sidewalls with minimal improvements, did you get both points? but let us know about the floor. 

What tubes are in your pre? I found my Rhumba Extreme was a little too bright with Telefunken’s, and for me that is saying something! Gold Lions that it came with were nice and forgiving, but Tesla’s sound perfect- they have the same bottom end as the Gold Lions, but with better clarity and almost as much cymbal air and energy as the Telefunkens. I have not paired the Backert with my Coda 15.5+ yet but I really love this Backert pre- it definitely is not bright, it is glorious!

 

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