Just an update on the unit:
I've been travelling a bit, so time spent listening has been patchy, but recently I've managed to squeeze in more time. Also since the full function preamp was available to me, I decided to try that out.
The full preamp has the advantage in that you can easily switch between MM and MC with the toggle switch at the back. Loading though requires you to open the cover to access the dip switches inside. I also like the idea of having the tube rectified power supply in a separate box from the main preamp. The supplied cord is high quality, thick guage and well shielded.
Overall, the thing that catches my attention is that its very, very quiet. Sometimes even after the stylus has gone into the grooves, I wonder if I have switched on the correct input, or if the mute was on. Music is very dynamic. This unit almost sounds like a SS unit, its hard to believe it has so many tubes in it.
From the my previous post, the sound has gotten slightly sweet and still shows all the detail and soundstaging capabilities.
Now the interesting part was the comparison with my Herron phono. The Herron is a fantastic unit, I have high regard for its music making abilities. The Modwright when loaded at 47k ohms sounds very similar, perhaps a touch leaner and slightly less gain, but marginally more quiet. Both units are very neutral, perhaps leaning ever so slightly to the warm side, but never euphonic.
I also put in some time listening to the line stage via my Denon universal player. I was amazed that while listening to the Water Music performed by Academy of St Martin in the Fields (1971), the soundstage was tremendously precise, instruments were placed precisely and in the correct scale to each other. So "real" was the performance I felt transported to Kingsway Hall. Playing other Cds just further re-enforces the sense of live performances happening right in front of me.
Highly recommended.
