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The new Coda S5.5 amplifier: It's a "Petite Beast"!

I have in-house the New Coda Technologies S5.5 amplifier for review for Stereo Times website. It will be awhile before I write the review. However, I'm so impressed by the performance of this petite amplifier, it only weights 45 pounds, that I wanted to give a heads up to you GON members if you are in the market for a balanced pure class A amplifier, delivers 50 watts @ 8 Ohms, and can drop 100 Amperes of current on a peak!

The world class build quality of Coda amplifiers is on display with the S5.5, along with the most beautiful purity of tonality, precise sound-staging, complete liquidity offered by pure class A design, and what might be the best top end regarding details, decays, and a natural shimmering without brightness or any edge at all.

The S5.5 uses extremely wide bandwidth output transistors instead of the usual TO3 devices used in most transistor designs. I own the Coda #16, which is great, but the midrange/high end is taken to another level of musical enjoyment with the S5.5. The S5.5 has a sense of speed/aliveness that is exciting to listen to that you experience in live music. The amp is dynamic as hell, has driven with ease any speaker I have tried it with, hence my nickname of the "Petite Beast". Remember, 50 watts pure class A, can drop 100 amperes of current and only weights 45 pounds.

Teajay (Terry London)

johnah5
minatophase3
34 posts
 

I just recently discovered Coda and unfortunately live in an area without a dealer (Seattle area) so I cannot hear them.  I currently have an Accuphase E-380 integrated and am considering adding the S5.5 to my system and using the E-380 as the pre-amp for the short term.  The E-380 only has RCA out for the pre-amp section, would that be an issue with the S5.5?  If I like the S5.5 I would probably get a dedicated pre and sell the Accuphase. 


Does anyone have any insights on how the S5.5 would sound compared to a class A/B Accuphase?  I am very happy with my Accuphase but the allure of a Class A amp sounds really good!

My speakers are Spatial Audio M4 Sapphire's (4Ohm, 88db).


Thanks,

Tim

johnah5 OP
236 posts
 

Hey Tim,

First, there should be no problem using the preamp RCA's output to drive the S5.5.

I'm quite familiar with Accuphase's overall presentation, which I'm a fan of, relatively warm/velvety with overall good tonal balance leading to a very musical experience. The Coda S5.5 is more silky, much faster, deeper/tighter bass frequencies, a much more airy extended top end, and it's overall dynamics are quite superior to what you get from your E-380. The S5.5 is never bright or analytical but offers accurate fidelity in both tonality and dynamics.

Hope this helps, Teajay

minatophase3
34 posts
 

Thanks Teajay, very helpful indeed.  Sounds like this may be a great addition to my system.  I assume no issues driving a 4ohm 88db speaker?

I love my Accuphase but do feel the top end is a bit rolled off and the bass isn't quite as good as it should be, great mid range though. 

I started off thinking I would get the #8 amplifier, which looks great as well, but came across this discussion and think the S5.5 is what I am looking for.

 

johnah5 OP
236 posts
 

Correct, no issues at driving your speakers, not with 100 amperes of current and 100 watts into 4 ohms. I have reviewed/owned the #8, great amplifier, like the S5.5 better for the reasons stated in this thread.

 

Teajay

fthompson251's avatar
fthompson251
485 posts
 

@johnah5   When will this review be coming out? I cannot find any reviews on this amp.

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