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Stereo Amp recommendations for Legacy Audio XDs

Current system:

  • Legacy Audio Focus XD's (Active 750W Class D) 
  • Wavelet II (DAC/DSP)
  • HiFi Rose RS130 w Roon, Tidal & Qobuz

Will continue to use the Active Class D for subs, but ready to insert a stereo Amp to power the treble and mid-range. Speakers can be changed to support this setup and Wavelet will handle the cross over. I don't want to change the Wavelet or purchase external DAC as I've only had this system for 3 years and don't have the budget to do this.  

My goal is to hear significantly more accurate representation of vocals, piano and the like without changing any other component listed. I'd like to hear from anyone who has the XDs with Wavelet and has done this already and what the results were and recommendations. 

Budget 4 to 6k for Stereo Amp.

Thanks

 

rbrannen
yyzsantabarbara
4,790 posts
 

I misspoke when I said that CODA may have built the Wavelet. It was the amps that CODA built for Legacy in the past. This thread mentions some past history,

Legacy Amplifiers — Polk Audio Forum

I have an amp that I like a lot and sounds better to my ears than the CODA #8. It is the Sanders Magtech which I got used from Sanders for $4k with 1-year warranty. Clas AB with 500 | 900 @ 8 | 4. Does not have the graininess of most older Class AB amps I have heard. The newer CODA #8 does not have graininess (if I remember correctly), but I seem to like the Sanders better. CODA also was involved in the build of the Sanders Magtech.

I am going to replace the Sanders with one of the following, SimAudio 761 or 861, CODA #16 (own one already), or the new CODA SYSTEM 150 (sp?) coming out next month. The Sanders is really good, but I want an end game amp for my Livingroom speakers.

I will likely need to keep the Sanders around for the very hot summer days in my small office.

BTW - KRELL is supposedly soon coming out with a trickle-down version of the $36k KRELL KSA i400. I would consider that new amp too (I love the new Duo XD KRELL sound which I owned in the past) but it would not match as well to my final Livingroom speaker.

BTW2 - I just noticed the KRELL Duo 175XD was mentioned above. I owned that amp and loved it. I used it with Thiel CS3.7. Only sold it to raise funds for some other gear.

vinylvalet
895 posts
 

I’ve owned Focus XDs and also recommend the Coda S5.5. I finally got fed up with the heat generated by tube amps in the AZ desert but couldn’t find anything solid state that was better or equal to the Zesto Bia 200 Select stereo 100W/channel class A amp I was using, the best tube amp I’ve owned.. Until the S5.5. Runs warm but not hot. Currently used in my main stereo driving Fyne F703 speakers. Highly recommended.

BTW,I tried several modern highly touted class D amps. Sorry, none of them float my boat. Certainly far better than what folks were raving about 10 years ago. Still not there, IMHO.

Call around. Discounts for Coda gear vary widely.

rbrannen OP
21 posts
 

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to look at the Coda and Krell. 

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