The Stereo Times Coda S5.5 amplifier just posted today. Thanks guys

Nice review and sounds like an exceptional amp. Just a few follow-up questions…

- Is it a fully balanced design?

- How hot does it get at idle and when pushed, and would you be comfortable leaving it on 24/7?

- How long does it take for it to warm up and sound good after being turned off?

- What are the main sonic differences between this and your Aric amp?

Thanks for any thoughts!

Hey soix,

1) Fully balanced

2) I do leave it on 24/7 and it gets relatively hot, but not hideously so.

3) When taken out of stand-by, I would say about twenty minutes to start to sing.

4) The S5.5 gets the tonality/colors of the AricAudio tube gear, and then adds transparency, bass control, and dynamics of great solid state. The S5.5 also has one of the best top ends of any amplifier, solid state or tube based, I have ever heard.

Teajay

Hi Teajay

I'm considering the S5.5.  Do you suppose it will pair well with the Audio Physic Avanterra?  I believe you've reviewed both.

Howard

From my experience less powerful amps tend to have slightly better tonality than more powerful amps even from the same manufacturer. I believe this may relate to a reduced number of output transistor pairs or output tube pairs. This has been my experience with both Coda and VAC. Enjoy!

I just purchased an S5.5 and have maybe 100hrs on it. My speakers (Spendor D9s) are easy to drive. I’ve owned a Pass X250.8 and Bryston 4B3 with the D9s and I think the 50w/c S5.5 sounds/feels like the most powerful amplifier I’ve had using them!

Keeping in mind I only play in the mid 80dBc range, room is 13x17, and D9s are 8ohm/90dB (so the amps are coasting as my X250.8 never left its 18W Class A bias), it has the tightest control and best macro and micro dynamic swings I’ve heard in my system. The 4B3 and AtmaSphere Class D monos were the previous two amps I’ve owned with them that I would have rated the most dynamic and with the best bass, now it is this little Coda.

Oh yea, it also sounds very very good! The high frequencies are likely the best of any amplifier I’ve owned. To my ears they are so detailed and airy, but not forward or hard sounding. I think it is a killer littlish amp (45lb) that so far being on for 5 days straight is just warm to the touch. My two Pass amps (XA30.8 also) heated the room up like crazy...