Does anyone own the new Coda S5.5 amp?

[Site7000]

No such distinction exists.

Push pull solid state amps fall generally into 3 categories with respect to biasing

- a high steady bias sufficient for a specified power into a specified load.
once the power is exceeded, or the load impedance is reduced, a gradual switch over to AB follows.

- a modest steady bias with a very small class A area, from milliwatts to several watts

- a dynamic bias arrangement which makes certain the output devices are always in a state of conduction. This avoids switching distortion but is most definitely not class A. The correct way to call such amps is non-switching.

Single ended amps are the only type which works in class A until clipping - whether due to power or impedance limitations.

This is an excellent description of class A arrangements. Reasonable minds can differ over whether class A REQUIRES clipping at the limit of class A or REQUIRES fixed bias, but you've made each of the possibilities very clear.

 

[gabriel_]

Has anyone had the chance to drive Joseph Audio Pulsars with the Coda S5.5?

I’m wondering if this amp has enough power for them.

 

[Stratman]

I haven't heard the Coda with the Pulsars, but I know someone who can probably give you some advise. Mike Kay at Audio Archon in Chicago is a dealer for Coda, is very knowledgeable, and a great guy to deal with. Disclaimer: I am not associated with Mike other than having purchased from him in the past.

Unless the Pulsars are exceptionally power hungry, I would suspect that the S5.5 would work just fine. They produce a tremendous amount of current. You can also get two of them and run in bridged mode. I think I would like to hear that!

Good luck and happy listening.

 

[gabriel_]

Thanks for your reply. I recently pulled the trigger on the Coda S5.5. The delivery time is about a month. But now once the excitement has died down I started to worrying if it may not have enough power ti drive the speakers and regretting I didn’t choose more powerful #8.... Hopefully it will be enough for JA Pulsars speakers and I won't regret it at the end.

 

[FT251]

Thanks for your reply. I recently pulled the trigger on the Coda S5.5. The delivery time is about a month. But now once the excitement has died down I started to worrying if it may not have enough power ti drive the speakers and regretting I didn’t choose more powerful #8.... Hopefully it will be enough for JA Pulsars speakers and I won't regret it at the end.

I don't think you will have to worry. Your speakers only dip to 6 ohm.

 

[gabriel_]

I don't think you will have to worry. Your speakers only dip to 6 ohm.

Thanks for that! I started to worry and question my choice after reading a response elsewhere that said:" "The little S5.5 seems to offer slightly cleaner/clearer highs but if I start getting heavy handed with the volume the #8 sounds slightly better/more powerful(it is more powerful) with my speakers. Marten Django XL seem to love the extra WPC of the #8."

 

[gabriel_]

I did some rough calculations based on the JA Pulsars’ sensitivity and my listening distance (~5 meters / 16 feet), and it looks like at full power I could get around 86–87 dB SPL. Do you think this result is reasonable for this setup?

 

[Young Skywalker]

I did some rough calculations based on the JA Pulsars’ sensitivity and my listening distance (~5 meters / 16 feet), and it looks like at full power I could get around 86–87 dB SPL. Do you think this result is reasonable for this setup?

Why are you listening at such a great distance from the loudspeakers? Your room, unless very effectively treated, would be dominating the sound you hear.

Regarding the calculated SPL at the listening position, I would consider it inadequate for dynamic acoustic music. It might be fine for highly compressed rock and pop music. You may get some room gain but I would be aiming for 105 dB at the listening position without high levels of distortion.

 

[gabriel_]

Why are you listening at such a great distance from the loudspeakers? Your room, unless very effectively treated, would be dominating the sound you hear.

Regarding the calculated SPL at the listening position, I would consider it inadequate for dynamic acoustic music. It might be fine for highly compressed rock and pop music. You may get some room gain but I would be aiming for 105 dB at the listening position without high levels of distortion.

Thanks for your reply. I agree that my listening distance is too long, but I can easily shorten it to about 4 meters (14 feet). I ran some more calculations, and at 16 feet the SPL at the listening position would be 89.5 dB, while at 14 feet it would be 91.4 dB. Do you still think that’s a bad result? I’ve started thinking about changing my order from the S5.5 to the #8. The S5.5 is a pure Class A 50W amp, while the #8 V1 is 150W with the first 16W in pure Class A.

 

[gabriel_]

I just spoke with Doug on the phone – really great guy! I explained my concerns about SPL calculations, the speakers’ efficiency (83.5 dB), my room size, and so on. He asked about the speakers’ impedance (they’re 8 ohms with a dip to 6), and after that he recommended switching from the S5.5 to the Coda No. 8 V1. He mentioned that the V1 would be the closest in sound signature to the S5.5.