Review on Coda Technologies 16 Amplifier went live today

@decooney 

Read the Stereophile review of the KEF Blade 2 Meta using benchmark AHB2 monos. KAL R loved that pairing. I however think it will not be as good. I went through the AHB2 love and hate with my hard to drive Thiel CS3.7. No way I use the AHB2 on the easier to drive KEF Blade 2 Meta.

I read a ASR post of the AHB2 sound (which I love love on the KEF LS50 Meta). That post is how I feel and is written better than I can ever do.

Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp | Page 5 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

I tried the Schitt Freya+ tube preamp for about 2 months with the AHB2 as a RAAL SR1a headphone amp. This was the only preamp that I could use with the AHB2 and bright SR1a.

BTW - I am looking at the $13K CODA #16 without the meters. I had the meters on the CODA #8. They were surprisingly useful with my RAAL SR1a headphones but a non-factor with my Thiel CS3.7 speakers.

It’s worth noting that the Krell i400 is set to retail for $35,000 for the stereo version and $70,000 for monoblocks. One could buy two Coda 16.0s without meters for $26,000 MSRP and run them in bridged mode to get 600/1200W at 8/4 ohms, respectively. 

@rlovendale I was thinking of 2 #16's in mono but I was wondering if that would be the optimal sound from the #16. I believe most amps (except AHB2) increase distortion and other negative factors when switched from stereo to mono. I will discuss this with Doug Dale at CODA.

My hesitation on the cheaper CODA #16 is the 150 watts vs the 400 watts on the KRELL in stereo form.  In terms of sonics, I know I love the CODA #16 and assume the KRELL KSA i400 will knock my socks off too (based on the KRELL XD lower models I owned).

At this point I am leaning more towards the KRELL but I do not know how it pairs with the KEF Blade 2 Meta. Does that extra power make a difference. I read about a dealer in Redmond, WA that carries both the KEF Blade and KRELL KSA i400 (soon) but not the CODA.

yyzsantabarbara; I know a few ppl who’ve heard the new Krell amp and yep, for sure it’ll knock your socks off I’m told. Then again, if you’ve got any concern about how some of the existing KRELL amps might drive your KEF blades, fear not. Dennis at Leesburg Listening Room is a dealer for both lines and would tell you that the existing Krell 575 mono blocks will drive those Blades into blissful oblivion with ease. Here is a link to that mono block. Hard to imagine anything sounding much better. Maybe that new piece might ……