2. amps-preamps
  3. 1130243691

Modwright SWL 9.0SE Pre ... your thoughts welcome

Hey, I have decided to dive into tubes ... well, you get my meaning. I was steered towards the Modwright SWL 9.0SE and so far have read some good things. I'm running a Levinson ML-27 for power and Paradigm S-4's for speakers. My transport is nothing special, Denon DVD-2200 but I am also looking at running a tubed DAC in hopes of bringing the system a little more alive. Right now the system seems a little flat ... not very exciting. Plenty of volume bass end it fantastic but the mid and upper end seem very packaged. Imaging is not very good ... High and mid frequencies don’t seem to blend well. Some CD's have fair to good sound but most seem pretty "plain". Just doesn’t have that delicacy I'm looking for. I seem to listen the SPEAKERS and not the music. I recently listened to an older set of Paradigms pushed by a small tubed integrated and I was amazed. The tubed gear really made the Paradigm speakers come to life ... I was set back in my chair. Vocals were clear and crisp … the sound was extremely detailed and I had to be drug out of the room. Since then I have really started to pick a part my system.

Cables are Signalcable Silver Resolution Balanced and Cobalt Ultimate speaker cables. I'm running Signal cable "Magic" power cables. Nothing fancy but it should do the job.

Is this upgrade going to help? Has anyone experienced this?

Any better preamps in the $1500-2000 range? What about Levinson SS preamps?

Help me out … Please
128x128horseface

Showing 4 responses by miklorsmith

miklorsmith
146 posts
 
I own the Modwright and love it. It doesn't color the sound, per se, but adds tremendous dimension. I'm temporarily using a volume-attenuated amplifier. I tried the setup with and without the Modwright. While I couldn't detect any obvious loss in transparency having the additional stage, the Modwright added about FOUR TIMES the stage depth. This is what I have always thought the Modwright unit does best, but it is also very linear, punchy, and fast.
miklorsmith
146 posts
 
I'm using the Modwright to a Red Wine Audio Clari-T to Zu Definition speakers. I haven't heard anybody saying the Modwright isn't a good match in any circumstances. But, I also think some people might prefer the tubier sound of 6sn7's like DeHavilland and Supratek are using.

And the Abbys are Fostex-based. I'd guess they could use a little fat around the middle, though I haven't heard that execution of the Fostexes.

Overall, if you use the Modwright in this system, I would expect an amp of soft-ish character to be best for the broadest audience.
miklorsmith
146 posts
 
Nice review.

I've had mine mixed in with a bunch of different gears and it's sounded great with all. Don't be afraid to toy! :)

Congratulations on your new, baby, um, preamp.
miklorsmith
146 posts
 
It doesn't take any time to sound good. You'll be thrilled out of the box, though it does mellow (in a good way) over the first couple days and weeks.
More to discover