Preamp for my CODA 5.5 amp

You’d get much better and more targeted recommendations if you share what specific improvements you’re looking for and what sound characteristics in general are most important to you.  Do you find the Coda to be sufficient to drive your Aerials?

@willywonka this thread got me to thinking of a tube preamp for my #16. I was trying to remember what preamp you switched to from the Serene. Glad you posted the comment above. I owned a BAT VK-42SE preamp long ago, but it was solid state.

The Serene is a nice preamp however, I was very disappointed when I took it to my friend's house (Danny from RAAL) and I put the Serene into his system. It was good but the preamp he had built just outclassed the Serene.

The preamp I really love is the Benchmark LA4 or HPA4. I have this in my office system.

BTW - I repurchased the RAAL SR1a earphone and VM-1a. I think you owned the SR1a at one time. I realized after some demos that the SR1a was really the best. 

@yyzsantabarbara I was very happy with my Serene and Coda but wanted some tube sound in my system and the price was right for my VK-80. I blindly bought the BAT preamp, but I bought from Music Direct who has a 60 day return policy. I have zero regrets in the purchase. I still have my SRa1’s but need to sell them. Great headphones but I decided to concentrate in just my main system instead. I did sell my VM-1a though and don’t have an adapter box so I can’t even listen to the headphones. I thought you purchased the newer 1995’s?

I am purchasing new speakers after the April AXPONA show. My LRS+ are the last component that really needs to be upgraded. I’ve budgeted $25K on this purchase so hopefully I can find something I’m happy with. I see your for sale adds often and you definitely go through lots of equipment. I think the reason I see them so often is because our taste in equipment is very similar. As you know synergy is so important in equipment and that is especially true with amplifiers and preamps. My guess is the Serene just wasn't a good match for Danny's system.

You can actually get a new RAAL Adapter just like the TI-1b, but it is based on the new 1995 adapter (using the stand). I would do that since the TI-1b and the new adapter are great (and sound the same). Your SR1a would sound very nice with the BAT,

I demoed the 1995 Immanis and Magna and I had an issue of not being able to work my jobs with them, especially the Immanis. There is so much sound that I found it hard to concentrate on my work. So, I went and repurchased the SR1a again which consistently sounds great, and I can work late at night with them on

My Magnepan MIni I think is a bit better on top than the LRS+ but can be used only in a small space. The Magnepan 3.7 should be like the Mini. I would do a demo of the following,
Diptyque Products - The Music Room

I have sold off a lot of gear and now given away my RAAL CA-1a phones, so I am down to 2 systems and the SR1a. I would suggest you try and get a TI-1b or order a new 1995 adapter. The cost is not much, and the sound is incredible. Almost as good as the VM-1a. I actually preferred the much cheaper Schitt Mjolnir preamp | Schitt Aegir v1 ($500 used) | TI-1b adapter on the Immanis and Magna over the VM-1a. That is how good the adapter is. I prefer the VM-1a on the SR1a but it is close.

I have a second Aegir v1 coming back from Schitt repair next week. If your BAT has dual output, including RCA then you could connect an Aegir v1 to it along with your LRS+ CODA amp. Just turn off the amp not being used (or Standby). For a few hundred dollars you would have killer sound. I can send out the amp to you if you want to test it out.

@yyzsantabarbara I'm trying to get rid of my headphones, so I wasn't really interested in the adapter. If I could get one really cheap maybe, but $800 more for something I rarely listen to isn't worth it to me. I just don't want to put any more money into them. My only concern is if I can sell them without the adapter. When I bought my headphones and amp together, they didn't send me the adapter. After thinking about it they should have sent me that since I paid full price.  Also, I actually do have a pair of electrostatic headphones I can use if needed.

I have actually heard the Diptyque speakers at the last AXPONA. They are very nice. Also looking at several other brands including ATC, Pure Audio Project, Perlisten, Joseph Audio and a few others. As you can see, I'm all over the place and open to most anything although I do admit I love Planers and Open baffle speakers. Thanks for the offer though, I appreciate it.