SIMPLY AMAZING: Coda Technologies 07x Preamplifier

Hi everyone! Just figured I'd add my .02 on my impressions of some of the Coda gear discussed here. I'm sitting listening to my new 07x and No. 16, and i think I've come to the same conclusion as most of you. I'm in disbelief of what's going down in my living room lol.

I've been fairly quickly upgrading my system from what I'd call top of the middle-fi/ bottom of true hifi, to very hifi. Single with no kids has its benefits! On my journey up the line, I've gained some experience and insights into system synergy and component matching, not as much as likely most of you much more experienced audiophiles, but i have certainly learned that not every upgrade has been a win. They've all been clearly apparent, as my system has been revealing all along the path, but at least one got me a little scared that maybe very very high end wasnt the sound I was actually after. My prior system was warm ish and juicy, liquid, satisfying and enjoyable/ easy to listen to literally all day. Upgrading the streamer to an Auralic aries g2.1 with the hoer-wege power supply was a wonderful improvement, as was this flippin monster of a dac that i got an amazing deal on, the Ypsilon Dac100. Same with the TAD ME1, but i was starting to understand the nature of ultra revealing speakers and systems as a whole. Like careful what you wish for! My old modded out Vincent SV-237MK integrated was great and had a beautiful sound overall, but had is shortcomings and was a little edgy at times. Then I tried upgrading to the Circle Labs A200... and truly truly disliked it. So hifi sounding, too analytical and lacked the emotional connection that I craved, even though that was the opposite opinion of the reviewers. That was the oh crap moment, like gimme back that mid-fi. 

Enter the Coda gear. I retract that previous statement, fears eliminated, and there's no going back lol. I can't believe you can have it all, but i guess you can. All the detail, all the soundstage/ sound space, all the tonal colors, with tonal density in spades. Dynamics are incredible, PRaT for days, beauty and sweetness with emotional connection intact. And the bass is the best I've heard. Best of all, it's totally non fatiguing, even at volume. Intimate and instrumental music has that singer in the room effect, and is as delicate as it's asked to be. Cranked up with heavy edm, and it never ran out of steam, and truly felt like a full scale concert. My family was over, and we had just seen one of the heaviest hitting artists at cow palace in San Francisco a few weeks prior. We played a familiar song, and we all agreed it was as good it better. 

Anyway, I think I'm preaching to the choir here, but for any bystanders considering trying top end Coda, don't hesitate. I agree completely with the other opinions expressed here, and didn't realize until now what level of sound was achievable, by my gear or any gear for that matter. You can have ultra transparency without fatigue, with equal parts freight train and sweetness. Goodness, the grip it has on these speakers and my room. Hot damn! Didn't know, now i do. And sorry if this sounds a little sensationalized, I promise I'm not doing it on purpose, just excited lol. 

Hope you all are enjoying your fantastic systems, playing music that stirs your soul :)

Jake

@kemp22 Congrats on joining the club. I have the #16 and had the 07x at one time. I did something wacky last month I purchased a 20-year-old CODA #11. After some testing with the #11 and #16 on my very best speakers and DAC. I came to the conclusion that the #11 was actually a better match than the #16. I am going direct to amp with this DAC since a preamp limits the DAC.

I now have the #16 on my used $1000 Magnepan Mini speakers in my office. Total overkill but that setup sounds incredible.

I still feel the #16 is a better amp than the #11 since it is a tiny bit cleaner on top, but on my best system the #11 was a better listening experience. I think it was the DAC that was causing this result since it is very revealing.  

Like @yyzsantabarbara , I too have moved on from the 07X. It was a fine unit and to its credit, miss it from time to time. It was replaced by an Audible Illusions L3A. It served me well for a while. That was replaced with an Audia Flight PRE. The Audia brand is growing on me as it is slowly taking over both systems. Lol. 

@kemp22 - I live in SF; just wondering, who did you see at the Cow Palace?

@wturkey - Awesome, glad you found something you like better :) Keep hearing how great audia flight is, but have yet to experience for myself.

@larsman - Saw Griz and Gramatic, with a few others opening for them. What a blast! Im a bass head through and through, which is what drew me to Coda. Im actually having and issue with the 07x, where the noisefloor at idleand while playing is very loud. Needing to send back to coda to figure it out, but im using the preouts from the Vincent and getting to experience the qualities of the No. 16 outside its partner 07x. The bass control from that thing is just nuts! Have you seen anything at the palace lately?

@yyzsantabarbara - hey bud, hlad youre still enjoying some Coda gear,  and too funny youre running the 16 on little maggies lol. We actually chatted a while back when you were selling your Krell K-300i, and I was gonna come by for a listen as im a Santa Barbara guy too! We should meet up for a sesh soon :)