Has anyone compared the Coda CSib to a Jeff Rowland Continuum S2?

Hello smodtactical. I have listened to many amps and preamps over the years.

These are the amps and preamps I have owned in chronological order since being involved in this crazy hobby.

Music Reference RM9-MKII amp...Music Reference RM5-MKIII preamp.

Edge Electronics NL10 amp...Edge Electronics Signature One preamp.

Merrill Audio Veritas mono-block amps...Prima Luna Dialogue Premium preamp. 

Coda #8 amp...Coda 07x preamp.

Cheers! 

Hi Bill...I agree with you totally. Subjective for sure! Enjoy your kit too...

I had a 2019 CSiB (so not the latest) and a CODA 07x and CODA #8. The separates were easily better than the 2019 CSiB. Coda states that the new 2020+ CSiB is very similar to the separates I owned.

I sold the 07x because it imparted a bit of warmth into my system. I came to a point where I no longer needed the warmth because I bought a tube-based headphone integrated amp. I also switched to the Benchmark LA4 for my 2-channel (07x was also used here). I was able to hear a bit more detail from the LA4 preamp over the 07x. I did enjoy the 07x a lot when I needed the warmth. I leveraged the dual XLR outputs of the 07x to make a headphone and 2-channel system from the single 07x.

The CODA #8 was sold because I needed cash for the tube headphone amp. It was a great move in retrospect. Though I was conflicted about selling it. I liked the #8 for the price.

I was debating whether to get the CODA #16 (an incredible amp to my ears) or a KRELL XD amp. I decided on the KRELL because I can get more power from it, and this will be my end game amp for my Livingroom system. I will be using a 2nd Benchmark LA4 or a Holo Serene preamp with the KRELL.

CODA #8 is also very good with the Benchmark LA4 preamp. That is if you only want to mostly hear the amp.

Thanks for the responses thus far!

I find it interesting that all have been focussed on Coda, and none on Jeff Rowland. I presume that the lopsided disparity is due at least in part to the fact that the latter is Class D, and many audiophiles remain broadly skeptical, or unsold on its SQ versus Class A or A/B.

It has been many years now since I had the 1st gen. JRDG Concentra in my system, but the positive memories linger. Note that I am not a spring chicken, and that with the '80s as a starting point, I have owned some excellent SS amps including Bryston, Pass (albeit an early Aleph), Accuphase (albeit vintage), and Gato.

The Concentra provided what I perceived to be a level of speed that seemed to set it apart. Drum strikes, in particular, were more visceral, and decays seemed more realistic, etc. It reproduced fine detail, but was more smooth than clinical to my ears. Etc.

Hence, my curiosity about his more recent Continuum.

@whipsaw 

i have discussed this on other threads, i vividly recall getting the much ballyhoo-ed jeff rowland class d shoebox mono’s back in the 2010 time frame, paid a pretty penny for them back then, think it was 3500 for the pair... beautiful as they were to look at, the sound was a total disappointment... typical early days class d sound - greyed out tonal color, lifeless treble, no air or sparkle, unnatural decay, while bass was good - sold them within a month

am sure in the ensuing decade, with successive iterations, the product has been improved sonically, but i have no desire to try again... i just feel with that brand, the money is put towards the sexy milled faceplate as much as the innards and actual performance...

@grannyring 

No, for me I am not brought to tears by music listening to a transitor radio. At least not to date 🙂.

get panasonic handheld am radio, open case, swap out caps for duelunds, rewire with audio note silver, the tears will flow ...🤣😂😁

am sure in the ensuing decade, with successive iterations, the product has been improved sonically, but i have no desire to try again... i just feel with that brand, the money is put towards the sexy milled faceplate as much as the innards and actual performance...

I hear you, and it's always tough to completely remove a bad taste from an earlier experience. 

As to the inner/outer cost relationship, Rowland has been using that beautifully finished "aircraft grade" aluminum for a long time now, and it's worth considering that the design itself (i.e. the face plates) is not complicated. So I'm skeptical that he would be inclined to cut costs on the guts as a result.

He does seem to blaze his own trail, which I respect, though his "house" sound is clearly not for everyone.