Preamp for my CODA 5.5 amp

I'm using a Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamp with my Coda Continuum No 8 V1. It's a tube preamp. 

I’ll look at it thanks

And why would you look at the LTA preamp?

@corelli The LTA preamp works well with the solid state Coda amp. I like the combination, anyway. It replaced a conrad-johnson preamp. It's not a real warm sounding tube preamp compared to the older conrad-johnson, but I prefer the sound of the LTA. Excellent detail, imaging, and soundstage. 

It responds well to tube rolling.  And, tubes last a long time. 

I'm not very good with describing the sound. 

I have had the CODA CSiB, #8, and now own the #16, I love the Benchmark LA4/HPA4 preamps with the CODA’s. I also like the Holo Audio Serene with the #16. My current setup is with the Serene and the #16, Mainly because the very neutral DAC I use seems better with the Serene than my HPA4.

I use the HPA4 with a warmer DAC in another system. I do not like that DAC with the #16.

So, it is a bit of a matching game, the #16, HPA4, Serene, and 1 of my 2 DACs are long term keepers for me.

My question was actually for the OP in an effort to question his process.  He bought an amp and now is wondering what speakers and pre will be a great match.

IMO you want to start with your speakers and match the amp accordingly.  The amp he has can probably drive 99% of the speakers out there so the question is a bit irrelevant.  Also, no goals were stated by the OP in terms of what type of sound he desires.

So this seems to be a fairly random exchange of info.

@corelli ​​​​​​

You got the random part right.

He asked what owners of Coda amps were using for preamps. I told him what I used. What's random about that? 

I would look at a dac streamer preamp we sell naim and they make a few amazing pieces that compliment the coda amplifiers 

The Naim nsc 22 $9000 is amazing 

And tor a lower price range the older nac 272 various prices depending on age and warranty

DAVE AND Troy

Audiointellect Nj

Coda and naim dealers 

We use this combination or the coda 7 pre.

To answer the OP’s question I use a Luxman C900U preamp with the Coda S5.5. It was what I had when I purchased the amp. I’ve been considering changing preamps myself but have to admit that the combination is pretty darn good as is. I’m sure there are probably better matches out there. 

The CODA 5.5 cannot drive either of my speakers. I got that info from Doug Dale, main guy at CODA. My Yamaha NS5000 likes power to sound their best and so did my old Magnepan LRS+. I was thinking of the 5.5 monos for the LRS+ or NS5000.

I tried my current Magnepan Mini with the Schitt Aegir mono’s (sort of similar to the 5.5) and it was too underpowered (terrible bass).

I get the idea of getting an amp before speakers. I bought the Mini because I had the Sanders Magtech amp in the house and that amp is perfect for Maggies.

With the 5.5 get a relatively efficient speaker.

too bad dave and troy spend all their time trying to plug their brands in the forums. If they pay attention to business, they'd know I sent them information regarding Legacy speakers. In the long run I doubt they have any inventory anyway.

VAC preamps sound absolutely great with Coda amplifiers! My VAC Renaissance 2A/Coda 16.0 duo has my system sounding better than ever. Speakers are Borresen X3. All the best!

The Luxman preamps are excellent and pricey.  My own experience with prior CODA amps would demand a really juicy tube pre or similar.  Lux is close with very liquid mid and extention in treble and bass.

we are loving the new nad m66 fully balanced,superb streamer, dirac room correction. we are using this preamp with our coda amplifiers

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1911-nad-masters-m66-streaming-preamplifier

https://www.stereophile.com/content/nad-m66-streaming-preamplifier

dave and Troy

audio Intellect NJ

Nad and Coda dealers

I'm using a SimAudio 740P preamp with my 5.5, and they make a great pair!  My favorite amp up to this point with the 740 was the Pass X250.8, and I think this pairing is just as good overall if not better.   I don't personally see it as a hard requirement for a lush or tube preamp to pair with the 5.5, not that a resolving tube preamp wouldn't also be a great match.   I don't find the 5.5 forward or fatiguing at all, and that is after owning the warmish XA30.8 and the very easy on the ears AtmaSphere Class D monos.   Personally, I think it would be a disservice to add a preamp that masks resolution and detail with the 5.5 as its so clean and resolving with an incredibly refined high end.   Why hide it? :)

FWIW, this most likely won't be of any help but I am using the Legacy Audio Wavelet II into my Coda S5.5 which is driving the mid/treble of my Legacy Focus XD's. The Waveet is also an external crossover and has Room Correction DSP specifically programmed for the speakers I have. The Coda amps pair exceptionally well with the Legacy speakers. 

 My Backert Labs Rumba tube hybrid preamp has great synergy with the S5.5, adding in some beautiful tube harmonics combined with hi resolution. 

Like @yyzsantabarbara I was using a Holo Audio Serene KTE on my Coda #8 with good results. Very transparent sounding. I now have a Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK-80 Tube preamp that I am extremely happy with. Sold my Serene preamp.

You’d get much better and more targeted recommendations if you share what specific improvements you’re looking for and what sound characteristics in general are most important to you.  Do you find the Coda to be sufficient to drive your Aerials?

@willywonka this thread got me to thinking of a tube preamp for my #16. I was trying to remember what preamp you switched to from the Serene. Glad you posted the comment above. I owned a BAT VK-42SE preamp long ago, but it was solid state.

The Serene is a nice preamp however, I was very disappointed when I took it to my friend's house (Danny from RAAL) and I put the Serene into his system. It was good but the preamp he had built just outclassed the Serene.

The preamp I really love is the Benchmark LA4 or HPA4. I have this in my office system.

BTW - I repurchased the RAAL SR1a earphone and VM-1a. I think you owned the SR1a at one time. I realized after some demos that the SR1a was really the best. 

@yyzsantabarbara I was very happy with my Serene and Coda but wanted some tube sound in my system and the price was right for my VK-80. I blindly bought the BAT preamp, but I bought from Music Direct who has a 60 day return policy. I have zero regrets in the purchase. I still have my SRa1’s but need to sell them. Great headphones but I decided to concentrate in just my main system instead. I did sell my VM-1a though and don’t have an adapter box so I can’t even listen to the headphones. I thought you purchased the newer 1995’s?

I am purchasing new speakers after the April AXPONA show. My LRS+ are the last component that really needs to be upgraded. I’ve budgeted $25K on this purchase so hopefully I can find something I’m happy with. I see your for sale adds often and you definitely go through lots of equipment. I think the reason I see them so often is because our taste in equipment is very similar. As you know synergy is so important in equipment and that is especially true with amplifiers and preamps. My guess is the Serene just wasn't a good match for Danny's system.

You can actually get a new RAAL Adapter just like the TI-1b, but it is based on the new 1995 adapter (using the stand). I would do that since the TI-1b and the new adapter are great (and sound the same). Your SR1a would sound very nice with the BAT,

I demoed the 1995 Immanis and Magna and I had an issue of not being able to work my jobs with them, especially the Immanis. There is so much sound that I found it hard to concentrate on my work. So, I went and repurchased the SR1a again which consistently sounds great, and I can work late at night with them on

My Magnepan MIni I think is a bit better on top than the LRS+ but can be used only in a small space. The Magnepan 3.7 should be like the Mini. I would do a demo of the following,
Diptyque Products - The Music Room

I have sold off a lot of gear and now given away my RAAL CA-1a phones, so I am down to 2 systems and the SR1a. I would suggest you try and get a TI-1b or order a new 1995 adapter. The cost is not much, and the sound is incredible. Almost as good as the VM-1a. I actually preferred the much cheaper Schitt Mjolnir preamp | Schitt Aegir v1 ($500 used) | TI-1b adapter on the Immanis and Magna over the VM-1a. That is how good the adapter is. I prefer the VM-1a on the SR1a but it is close.

I have a second Aegir v1 coming back from Schitt repair next week. If your BAT has dual output, including RCA then you could connect an Aegir v1 to it along with your LRS+ CODA amp. Just turn off the amp not being used (or Standby). For a few hundred dollars you would have killer sound. I can send out the amp to you if you want to test it out.

@yyzsantabarbara I'm trying to get rid of my headphones, so I wasn't really interested in the adapter. If I could get one really cheap maybe, but $800 more for something I rarely listen to isn't worth it to me. I just don't want to put any more money into them. My only concern is if I can sell them without the adapter. When I bought my headphones and amp together, they didn't send me the adapter. After thinking about it they should have sent me that since I paid full price.  Also, I actually do have a pair of electrostatic headphones I can use if needed.

I have actually heard the Diptyque speakers at the last AXPONA. They are very nice. Also looking at several other brands including ATC, Pure Audio Project, Perlisten, Joseph Audio and a few others. As you can see, I'm all over the place and open to most anything although I do admit I love Planers and Open baffle speakers. Thanks for the offer though, I appreciate it.

@yyzsantabarbara ...I was thinking of the 5.5 monos for the LRS+ or NS5000.

I tried my current Magnepan Mini with the Schitt Aegir mono’s (sort of similar to the 5.5) and it was too underpowered (terrible bass).

I get the idea of getting an amp before speakers. I bought the Mini because I had the Sanders Magtech amp in the house and that amp is perfect for Maggies. ...

Speaking of preamp and amp pairing, I noticed you’ve tried a few substantial solid state amplifiers it seems. Also, noting praise for some of the Schiit products too.

Have you by chance considered or tried the Schiit Tyr mono amps? If so, what did you think compared to the batch of Coda amps and others you’ve owned?

@willywonka

I love Planers and Open baffle speakers.

If you are down in Ventura, CA stop by Danny’s shop and have a listen to his new Open Baffle speakers. He is in the process of setting up a listening station in his warehouse. That guy is a bit of a savant when it comes to sound. I want to get a pair of his Open Baffle once I am in a better financial spot and also move to a new house.

They sound different than my Yamaha NS5000 speakers. I hope to have a bigger office in the future where I can put his Open Baffle. Just need about 5 watts of power to drive them. I will keep the NS5000 in a Livingroom.

@decooney I did a lot of online research between the Wotan and the Tyr. My main motivation was reading Jason Stoddard's (the amp designer) comments on the 2. The winning argument for me was was his comment that the that the Wotan was more explosive or powerful sounding than the more laid back Tyr.

I initially wanted to buy the Tyr because I could then sell my long Audience FrontRow speaker cables and use my short FrontRow speaker wire on the Tyr. I was also worried the Wotan would be too warm (it is not).

After about a month of owning the Wotan and playing it a lot in my office with the Magnepan Mini I found that the Wotan is as good as the CODA #16 on the Mini. I love this amp on the Mini. The Mini is better to my ears than the LRS+ I owned in a bigger room. None of the amps I had on the bigger office with the Thiel CS3.7 | Magnepan Mini | KEF LS50 Meta sound as good as the Wotan on the Mini. I do not think the Mini is particularly exceptional, but the combo sounds great.

On my Yamaha NS5000 the Wotan had some issue on the top end compared to the CODA #16. In fact, it was easy to tell the difference with the #16 being exceptional and the Wotan having a bit of an edge on top. Saying all of that. This upcoming week when I have the house to myself I will put the Wotan back with the NS5000 because I think the Wotan may have improved in the last little while of burn-in. I do not expect it to be as good as the #16 on the NS5000. 

I will say that the Wotan is a exciting sounding amp. I hate to say for the price, but I have t0o since it cost $2k and sounds as good or better than almost all the more expensive amps I have owned.

No need to take my word for it since they have a 15-day home trial and I am sure reviews to come from owners.

Thanks @yyzsantabarbara for the explanation. I'd probably gravitate more towards the Tyr then for a more "laid back" type of solid state sound you mention - good to know. Maybe something to test and compare down the road.  I'll first decide what I might want to part with first to help fund the next few amp rotations.

I've been looking at a few different monoblock amps lately but not sure I want to part with my Soderberg upgraded Pass / Forte' Class A amp just yet.  It's configured now as  Pure Class A 50w at 8ohm and 80w Class A at 4ohm. A nice size/weight amp too.  I'd probably regret parting with it, so I'm just looking around for grins right now. Thanks,  Happy Listening. 

To @dpm2340 sorry for the slight derail on the thread there. Part of this does relate though for those comparing Pass, Coda, (smaller Class A 50w amps too) and we see the questions periodically pop up about "which preamp" to run with Pass, and same topic not too far off topic with Coda. 

As to your original question, I’m a huge tube preamplifier fan myself. I run mine rotating my SS amp in/out with my tube monoblocks. Also have the matching Class A solid state preamp for my SS amp. I do compare. The tube 6SN7 preamp paired with my Pass / Forte’ amp sounds extra nice. I once thought about trying it with a Coda 5.5 or Coda S20 just to see how it would sound. Might demo one some day fwiw.