Preamp for my CODA 5.5 amp

@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.

@yyzsantabarbara ...I was thinking of the 5.5 monos for the LRS+ or NS5000.

I tried my current Magnepan Mini with the Schitt Aegir mono’s (sort of similar to the 5.5) and it was too underpowered (terrible bass).

I get the idea of getting an amp before speakers. I bought the Mini because I had the Sanders Magtech amp in the house and that amp is perfect for Maggies. ...

Speaking of preamp and amp pairing, I noticed you’ve tried a few substantial solid state amplifiers it seems. Also, noting praise for some of the Schiit products too.

Have you by chance considered or tried the Schiit Tyr mono amps? If so, what did you think compared to the batch of Coda amps and others you’ve owned?

@willywonka

I love Planers and Open baffle speakers.

If you are down in Ventura, CA stop by Danny’s shop and have a listen to his new Open Baffle speakers. He is in the process of setting up a listening station in his warehouse. That guy is a bit of a savant when it comes to sound. I want to get a pair of his Open Baffle once I am in a better financial spot and also move to a new house.

They sound different than my Yamaha NS5000 speakers. I hope to have a bigger office in the future where I can put his Open Baffle. Just need about 5 watts of power to drive them. I will keep the NS5000 in a Livingroom.

@decooney I did a lot of online research between the Wotan and the Tyr. My main motivation was reading Jason Stoddard's (the amp designer) comments on the 2. The winning argument for me was was his comment that the that the Wotan was more explosive or powerful sounding than the more laid back Tyr.

I initially wanted to buy the Tyr because I could then sell my long Audience FrontRow speaker cables and use my short FrontRow speaker wire on the Tyr. I was also worried the Wotan would be too warm (it is not).

After about a month of owning the Wotan and playing it a lot in my office with the Magnepan Mini I found that the Wotan is as good as the CODA #16 on the Mini. I love this amp on the Mini. The Mini is better to my ears than the LRS+ I owned in a bigger room. None of the amps I had on the bigger office with the Thiel CS3.7 | Magnepan Mini | KEF LS50 Meta sound as good as the Wotan on the Mini. I do not think the Mini is particularly exceptional, but the combo sounds great.

On my Yamaha NS5000 the Wotan had some issue on the top end compared to the CODA #16. In fact, it was easy to tell the difference with the #16 being exceptional and the Wotan having a bit of an edge on top. Saying all of that. This upcoming week when I have the house to myself I will put the Wotan back with the NS5000 because I think the Wotan may have improved in the last little while of burn-in. I do not expect it to be as good as the #16 on the NS5000. 

I will say that the Wotan is a exciting sounding amp. I hate to say for the price, but I have t0o since it cost $2k and sounds as good or better than almost all the more expensive amps I have owned.

No need to take my word for it since they have a 15-day home trial and I am sure reviews to come from owners.

Thanks @yyzsantabarbara for the explanation. I'd probably gravitate more towards the Tyr then for a more "laid back" type of solid state sound you mention - good to know. Maybe something to test and compare down the road.  I'll first decide what I might want to part with first to help fund the next few amp rotations.

I've been looking at a few different monoblock amps lately but not sure I want to part with my Soderberg upgraded Pass / Forte' Class A amp just yet.  It's configured now as  Pure Class A 50w at 8ohm and 80w Class A at 4ohm. A nice size/weight amp too.  I'd probably regret parting with it, so I'm just looking around for grins right now. Thanks,  Happy Listening.