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CODA amp No.8, Bryston 4B3, or Ayre VX-5 Twenty

- CODA amp No.8 (version 2, 250W@8ohm)

- Bryston 4B3 (300W@8ohm)

- Ayre VX-5 Twenty (175W@8ohm)

Have you had experience with either of these amp? Can you please share your thoughts and recommendations. I’m going to buy one of them for my system:

- room: 26’ L x 18’ W x 9’ H (living room with open breakfast area)

- speakers: 2-way Human 81 DK (8ohm, 89dB, 8" woofer, 1" tweeter)

- preamp: Wyred4Sound STP-SE Stage 2 upgrades

Thanks very much!

Henry

henrynguyentx
piebaldpython
66 posts
 

No experience with the Ayre however can tell you the CODA was on my short list of amps. Have had much experience with Bryston and they are good for gentle loads. Not much current or oomph behind them. I ended up with a Pass Labs X350.5 and it's all I could ever want. Suggest you take a peek at that level as it will allow for upgrades in the future from your present monitors.

tomstruck's avatar
tomstruck
353 posts
 

 

if I didn't have Aesthetix I would have Ayre some of the best sounding solid state

erik_squires
16,332 posts
 

Ayre is a unique and special sound.  Absolutely need to listen to it.

re-lar-kvothe's avatar
re-lar-kvothe
181 posts
 

I have heard Ayre VX-5 Twenty and the Coda No.8, among many other outstanding amps, in my system. To my ears the Ayre really shined. It is the most musical power amp I ever heard.

zlone
748 posts
 

I can only speak for the Coda #8, I have version 1. It was a huge upgrade for my system from NAD. The word that comes to mind is ‘sweet’, when I think of the sound. I no longer play really loud music, but based on the power supply design I am guessing it can drive just about any speaker with ease. 
 

What amplifier are you replacing? What kind of music do you typically play?

 

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