GREAT NEWS! The Coda Technology new #16 amplifier will arrive this week


I was just informed that Coda's brand new model #16, which is based on the latest generation of improvements used in the #8, will be arriving later this week for review for The Stereo Times website.  Since the reviews I have done on the #8 amplifier and the 07x preamplifier, I have received numerous inquires when I'll get this piece in for review.

This beast of an amplifier, over hundred pounds with one of the largest power supplies in a single chassis design on the market, delivers 100 Class A before it crosses over into A/B. The Coda #8, is in my opinion, one of the best SS amps on the market for under ten grand.  I expect, based on the run Coda is on with their new generation of gear, that the #16 will be a beautiful musical performer.  We shall see! I still find it amazing based on build quality/performance that Coda's prices are so damn reasonable.  Yes, the #16 will retail for around 12K, not inexpensive.  However, I guarantee if this amplifier was manufactured by other high-end American or European companies it would be triple the price. If the #16 takes the already superlative performance of the #8 to another level, it will be truly a "killer" of an amplifier. 




teajay
The No. 8 has a 3 kVA Keen Ocean power transformer and 80,000 microfarads of power supply capacitance. You can order it without meters for $900 less.
@tomlhuffman yeah I bet the Ulfberhts rock driven by the JC1s! My B&W 804 D3s dip down under 3 ohms at certain points too, can actually see that happening on the meters. Personally I find the JC1s (1st generation at least) to be a bit hard-edged and lacking refinement. I guess it depends on what you are looking for, the genres of music you listen to etc., I listen mainly to ambient, and a lot of vocals and acoustic, some classical music too, and when I am feeling nostalgic I will dig into classic rock (60s and 70s era). Also my room is smallish, and even though the walls are concrete I have neighbors in my condo complex that don't appreciate it when I play my Led Zeppelin (particularly Physical Graffiti these days for some reason) LOUD.

@smodtactical I bought my No. 8 from Al, good guy, shoot me a PM if you want more detailed impressions. FYI my setup:

PS Audio Dectet Power Conditioner
Custom mains 1 meter cables for ALL components (each worth $200)
Audioquest Yukon XLR 1 meter interconnects
PS Audio Directstream Junior DAC/Streamer
Schiit Freya+ & Denafrips Athena preamps (I swap these preamps in/out from time to time)
CODA No. 8 amplifier
Transparent Wave 2 meter speaker cables
B&W 804 D3 floorstanders


I am trying to decide between the Coda #8 v2 and v3. What factors would determine the best choice between the two versions?

My speaker is the Thiel CS3.7 which goes below 4 Ohms, supposedly a lot of the time. I listen at moderate volume levels. Would the v3 have any benefit in that scenario?
@ kairosman You know, this is really interesting. I had the Coda Continuum #8 in house for a few months. I could totally see why someone would love it. It is extremely refined and transparent. I also had a Pass Labs XA25 for a while and these two amps sounded very similar. But ultimately I just preferred the JC1 monoblocks. What I liked was their low-end grunt and dynamic drive. That’s why I am a little impatient over discussions of the "best" amp. I really believe that there is no such thing. It all depends on what speakers you are driving and your personal tastes.

I have found that Teajay’s tastes and mine are generally quite similar. I bought the Tekton Ulfberhts based on his review and they are the best speakers I have ever heard. I also bought the LTA Microzotl preamp based on his recommendation, and in this case I thought it significantly outperformed the Parasound JC 2 flagship preamp. But we just have different tastes with respect to amps.

However, right now I am cursing his name because he has got me interested in the Coda FET 07x preamp.