Preamp: Mcintosh vs Modwright?

MrT,

I think you are right in that the tube power supply does not transform the SWL into and older Conrad Johnson but from what I have read it should lean to "slightly" warmer sound with a little more weight and impact.
The Mac does offer a lot more bonus features like the tone controls but I wonder if I would be paying a premium for features that I would not use, most notably the phono section.
I have noticed a C220 listed here and it is located only 90 minutes away, I think he is asking $2499.

Jam,

I asked Dan about this particular unit and he said it in fact it has an extra set of single ended outputs added, wire to XLR plugs. definitely not a true balance output.
The seller also got back to me and he said that he purchased it about 10 months ago and recently had Dan add the "balanced output".
He has a sale pending, the buyer is suppose to be sending him a cheque and is expecting it to show up in the first of the week.

The rectifier doesn't at all make it sound like a Conrad Johnson. I had a CJ 17LS that the Modwright replaced. That preamp had a nice seductive sound but I was amazed at how much detail was glossed over after hearing the Modwright. You're right that it's still not a CJ.
Personally, I've never felt a need for tone controls. I also had Dan put in a Dact attenuator and gave up the remote control volume for a bit more resolution.
The rectifier tube type makes a difference too. I just replaced mine with a new Mullard Blackburn Dual Getter and it's totally great.

I had my SWL upgraded to the SWLP. The SWLP has the outboard tube rectified PS, all new Modwright Caps and the phono stage with it's 6C45 and 6N1P tubes. The linestage section uses the same 5687 tubes as the SWL.
My SWL was in the rack for 14 months or so and I enjoyed it immensely. I felt its strongest attributes were its quietness, it's detail and its dynamics - especially its dynamics. I would not say it was at all tubey. It was neutral/linear. I would also say it was never harsh or too detailed.
I upgraded to get the outboard tubed PSU because I wanted an even darker background silence and I want a phono pre to add vinyl to the mix in the near future.
The SWLP showed up about a month ago and it's been burned in for about 250 hours now.
All I can say is that this is no SWL. The improvements in sound stage width and depth, warmth, detail - top and bottom - and over all musicality are tremendous.
The SS is more holographic, images are a bit more diffuse but still solid. The background is absolutely black and detail is just everywhere in the music. The SWL's dynamics are still there. The bass is SWL-like but sounds to me to be a bit deeper and more subtle/refined than with the SWL.

My SWL had the DACT attenuator and a blackgate smoothing cap in the PSU. These were swapped into the SWLP. The rest of the chain consists of a BAT VK600SE and Andra II speakers. I have been swapping in three different CDPs - a Modwright Sony 9100es with its tubed PSU, a Stage 2 JD100a and a Parts Connexion Ultimate Denon 3910. No TT yet so no info on the phono stage. Someday...

I had been going back and forth with the SWL and a First Sound Presence Deluxe II until the SWLP arrived but it's been SWLP full time since.
The FS is a fantastic pre but the SWLP is just more sweetly musical. There is just more "magic" with it than with the FS. The detail seems to be the same between the two. Channel separation seems to be the same and they are both absolutely dead quiet. The FS is just one step - or a few? - more clinical than the SWLP.

I think The SWLP strikes a very nice balance between warmth and accuracy. The music is all there - top to bottom - and it's got that big, non fatiguing sound too. I love it.

Colopilot, you sound like a very happy customer.
I am excited to hear what both you and Jamnperry have had to say.

As far as you guys know, are the SWLP and SWL Signature exactly the same except for the phono section and the separate box for the power supply?
Conversely, would a SWL with the tube rectified PS update be exactly the same as the Signature.

Thanks

Hi Hpower,

I am not sure what Modwright calls the "Signature" SWL, could it just be the added tubed PSU?

The SWLP has the outboard tubed PSU PLUS the MWI capacitors.
I think the line stage circuit is the same as the SWL otherwise.

I would think the new caps would have a sizable effect on the SWLPs sound but I haven't heard an SWL with a tubed PSU. I've only heard my SWL, Modwright's demo SWLP and my SWLP.

From what I have read of the upgraded SWL and what I have heard with the SWLP they both have improvements in the same areas but I suspect the SWLP with its new caps sounds more refined and more detailed. How do I know this if I haven't heard them ABed?

Well... ;-)

It seems to me that no one has expressed the kind of "wow" with their upgraded SWL that I have with the SWLP.

The difference between the SWL and the SWLP is so much greater than I expected. The improvement is not incremental at all. It still has its SWL nature but, to me, it sounds like a whole new preamp. The upgraded SWL folks all comment on it's improved "tubeyness" but I haven't read anything referring to the huge improvements I have experienced with the SWLP.

It might be I am only hearing the tube rectifier and not the MWI caps plus the tube PSU but I can't say for sure.

Has anyone heard both?