Which amp is best-code 50 or the valvestate 8040 best opinions?
There is no answer for this qestion, Mark. CODE 50 is not an amp itself, it's a modeller, which allows you to emulate different amps like JTM-45, DSL, JVM-410, 2525 Silver Jubilee and other. You can not only choose clean, crunch or distorted channel of some amps, but you can use different power amps and cabinets as well.
You can even make construction which doesn't exeist in reality, for example Marshall Plexi preamp connected to power amp based on 6L6 tubes.
The variety of sound you can create with this device is so huge, that comparison you've mentioned in your post make no sens, sorry...