Preamp: Mcintosh vs Modwright?

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?

May not be exactly the same. Dan is using newer caps he had specially made for him, I believe. They wouldn't be in the older SWL's, but if you're sending a SWL to have the tube stage upgrade, I think he could change the caps too.
I'm pretty sure he's using the new caps in the SWL's now, which would mean that yes, the linestage is the same in the SWLP and the SWL. Probably a good idea to contact him to get a definite answer to your question though.
I totally agree with Colopilot and his observations. Ours are also almost exactly the same too, with Dact and blackgates.

Jam / Pilot

I have responded to this new ad:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1179248218

It reads excactly like what I was hoping to come up with, a "Signature Edition".

But after doing a little digging I discover (based on running the S/N by Dan) that in fact it has a built date from 2 years ago and is one of the first 50 "Special Editions" made.
I don't think the seller was aware of this until I told him.

I then spoke to the dealer that sold the unit to my Agon seller and he tells me that it was sold as new a few months ago and that he has had it for about 8 months previous to that.
He said that Dan sold it to him (aprox. 10 months ago) as one of the 1st SWL's that he fitted the tube rectified PS with. The dealer mentioned tha it was played as a demo in the store, with a lot of people inquiring if Dan was going to offer this PS version as a production model. As they say, "the rest is history".

I was already to jump on this one based on the ad but, to me, the unit really isn't how I originally interperated the sellers ad.

What do you guys think?