CODA 8 V1

@gochurchgo 

I have the 507ux.  The preamp portion is stellar.  The 505/507/509 are distinguished by the power supply and number of output devices.   The hardere a speaker is to drive the higher up the chain you should go. 

@gochurchgo -  If I was going with an integrated I'd go with Luxman or Ayre.   I own the Luxman, and of all I've heard, including Coda and Pass Ayre is the only one I'd seriously consider swapping for. 

@audphile1 - Apologies for misreading and thank you for the clarification. 

@gochurchgo - I like the amps a lot more than the pres for that exact reason.  Even with the amps, I would encourage you to seek out something more colorful in a pre. A Luxman if solid state, or a CJ or Rogue for tubes.  I’ve not heard a lot of tubes in a very long time so sorry I don’t have more to recommend. 

My experience in general with ESLs for instance really encouraged a tube pre/ss amp combination and the results were pretty glorious with the right speakers.  Coda/InnerSound was no exception and I imagine the benefits of sweetening up the amp with a tube pre still holds. 

BTW, while on the subject, again not heard every CODA pre but while I really can appreciate the amps I gravitate to more juicy or colorful pres. Conrad Johnson, Luxman, etc. over either CODA or Pass.  

Don’t worry about class a or a/b. Coda is excellent. There’s barely any difference with Pass or Coda when these amps transition out of Class A. 

I haven't heard every Pass or every Coda, but my experience with Pass and the Innersound (made by Coda) amps is nothing like this.  To my ears these amps sounded worlds apart and the Pass amps more fussy about which woofers they play well with. 

I'm not going to argue who makes a better amp, just saying that to my mind a switch from Pass to Coda can make a lot of sense for the right listener and speakers.   I do agree that the class A, A/B issue is ridiculous, especially  here. Pick what you like to hear.