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)
Hey vthokie83, Thanks for your very detailed and informed sharing on the S5.5. I just got off the phone with Aric (AricAudio). You are in for another treat when you get your Motherlode in the near future. The combo of the S5.5 and Aric’s great preamplifier will blow your mind! Thanks again for sharing, Teajay |
@vthokie83 thanks so much for your impressions. I guess the Caledons + Coda and soon Aric Audio preamp would be a knock out combination. I should be getting my Coda S5.5 amp soon. It will be paired with Supratek Signature Grange preamp. I will post my impressions when I get the amp in a few weeks.. |
@vthokie83 Great write up! I plan on providing more thoughts on my S5.5 in about a week or so. My write up will be no where as detailed as yours but I can say now after listening to the amp for several days I am hearing the same things that you are. I bet the addition of the Aric Audio pre-amp will take your system to a new level of bliss! |
Hey guys, Isn't it great even with different listeners/personal taste, different equipment in each system, and different acoustic spaces, the sonic virtues/traits of the S5.5 are still clearly heard. Now its around 20 people, through this thread or Emails, stating that the S5.5 is/or might be one of the best Solid State amps they ever bought. Not inexpensive, but what a value at its retail price compared to much more expensive amps that are not built to the same quality or perform at the same level. Remarkable, over 20 new owners and not one disappointed over what they are experiencing with the S5.5! Teajay |
