Review on Coda Technologies 16 Amplifier went live today

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 ……

@krell_fan1 I spoke with a KRELL dealer today in WA about the new amp. His partner had demoed the KRELL KSA i400 at a WA show and loved it. The guy I spoke to found the KRELL XD not as warm as he prefers (he is more of a PASS fan). He had not heard the new KRELL i400. I told him the KRELL XD was at the upper limit of warmth for my ears, I do not favor PASS and I love my KRELL 175XD.

We got to talking about different amps for the Blade 2 Meta and I am tending to think that the massive current of the CODA #16 is enough in stereo mode for the Blade 2 Meta. That is at moderate volume I would get a similar sound as a 400 watt amp (maybe the 400 watt KRELL i400 is different)

I may fly up to WA and demo the KRELL i400 with the Blade Meta but the CODA #16 looks like a great choice for the Blade 2 Meta.

The dealer in WA also tried 4 Benchmark mono amps on the KEF Blade Meta. There is a photo of that session on the internet. He preferred the PASS to the mega watt AHB2 setup.

I am going to talk with Doug Dale about what you lose when you go mono with the CODA #16. Something to have in the back pocket if needed.