Coda CB vs 2016 07X

I love my #8, had it for about nine months. They need a lot of break in, run it for a week solid before you do any serious listening. It was a big upgrade to my system and now I am wondering if an upgrade to my preamp (Freya) is in order. Posted on this forum yesterday asking for experience in that regard. I am looking at the Coda preamp of course, but it is a bit out of my price range right now. I have seen some positive comments on the Benchmark LA4 when paired with the #8. Following your post with interest. 

A guy said he loved the denaphrips athena with it. But it has no gain...which may be a problem if u play vinyl. Denaphrips has a warm signature...so I’ve also been looking at tube preamplifiers. I have the freya + in another system. Coda CB is what they is in the CSiB. So getting the CB seems counter productive.

@zlone do you run it single ended or balanced? 

I run it balanced. I have been meaning to try it single ended to see if there is any difference, but have not gotten around to it. From memory I think the #8 is 10k input impedance and the Freya is 600 ohm output impedance, so within the 10x rule. 

The Freya+ is OK with the CODA #8. I forgot if this applies to the CODA#8 but with the KRELL Duo 175XD the Freya+ does not go silent when the volume is turned all the way down. I had the same thing happen with my Topping pre90 (Stereophile review should be out online today) so I sold it. With the Freya+ I figure its tubes, so I let it go. The Freya+ will not stay long term with my CODA #8 or KRELL 175XD.

The CODA 07x preamp is great with the CODA #8 and my KRELL. I use the dual XLR outputs to use with my headphones and speakers. The Benchmark LA4 sounds excellent with the CODA #8. It was not that great with the KRELL, but I had COVID that week when I tried it out so maybe that was the reason. I actually prefer the LA4 with the CODA #8 but I need the dual XLR outputs so the 07x stays. The 07x is also much warmer than the LA4. The LA4 maybe not warm enough for some people. There is a 30-day home trial with Benchmark, so you cannot make a mistake trying it for yourself.

A few weeks ago, there was a used CODA CP preamp on USAudiomart. I was debating whether to get that or the Freya+. The dealer who sold me the 07x told me that the CP is sort of like the 07x and an excellent preamp. He suggested I go with the used CP over the Freya+. I should have listened.