Modwright SWL 9.0SE Pre ... your thoughts welcome

I recently took delivery of a Modwright SWL9.0SE and I find it to be extremely musical. I agree with most of what has been written here and in the professional reviews.

I would like to offer a suggestion to experiment with power cords. When I first installed the Modwright preamp, rather than using the supplied 18 gauge "spaghetti noodle" power cord, I used a Volex 17604 14 gauge, shielded power cord that I had found to be excellent on several pieces of equipment. After 10-12 hours of culumative listening to the SWL9.0SE, I had a sense of slowness and slight congestion in the midrange of the preamp...nothing to change my overall excellent impression of the Modwright, but enough to encourage me to experiment with another power cord. So, last night I connected a Ridge Street Audio Poiema!!! power cord to the SWL9.0SE.

The results were amazing. Truly amazing. I'm not given to hype and exaggerated claims when it comes to equipment or tweaks. I believe in the benefits of upgraded power cords and interconnects, but the improvements on my scale are usually in the range of a 5%-10%, and I consider a 10% improvement revolutionary.

Well, the Ridge Street Poiema!!! power cord was responsible for a 20%-25% improvement in the performance of the Modwright preamp in my system. The congestion disappeared, and the highs, which were crisp and nicely defined with the Volex power cord, suddenly became alive and real. This was an improvement which I believe would be obvious to anyone if they tried it themselves.

I haven't tried any other power cords on the Modwright, but this experience with the Poiema!!! convinces me that experimentation in this area is not only worthwhile, but essential.

Try it youself. You might be amazed, too.

Called Dan today...twice...and each time he answered the telephone on the first ring, and proceeded to answer my questions in a thoroughly helpful and professional manner. He responds to e-mails equally as promptly.

How can anyone NOT want to do business with Dan Wright?

He's a class act...

Hello all,
Can Dan build the Modwright SWL 9.0 preamp with BALANCED XLR and single-ended outputs?
My JC-1 monos sound quite a bit better using the balanced inputs.
If so, how much $$$ extra are the balanced outputs?
Does Dan offer any other upgrades as well?
If so, what are they and how much $$$?

These are perfect questions to ask Dan.

My opinion, is that constantly offering small upgrades and options to the SWL9.0SE, while extremely flexible and convenient is ultimately frustrating because one never knows what version one owns, what is standard, and frankly, it contributes to Audiophilia Nervosa. :)

The series of seemingly endless mini-revisions of the NuForce amplifiers comes immediately to mind.

My suggestion would be to keep the current SWL9.0SE as is, and continue to offer the options of Bybees, Blackgate, and Tung Sol tubes.

I would suggest a stand alone outboard phono section as a separate Modwright product.

I would further suggest a new, upgraded Modwright preamp which would include standard balanced outputs, output transformers, Blackgate cap in the power supply, an outboard power supply, and other goodies you might be considering. Further, even in this unit, I'd suggest leaving Bybees as an option.

One last thought...if the stand alone phono section is problematic and expensive to produce, I would suggest keeping the phono section an optional feature on only the new, upgraded preamp, and I'd make it an on-board section rather than an outboard unit to keep down the cost.

That's my two cents...

Damn, I didn't know I could order extra cheese!

Has anyone tube rolled with the SWL9.0SE? I wondering if it's possible to warm up the tonal characteristics beyond what the TungSol 5687 tubes provide, without losing the extension.

I'm using Sylvania Gold Brand 5687s right now, and GE JAN 7044s work very well too. I already have 7044s on my Modwright 9000es, and found that the 7044s on both was WAY too much of a good thing.
1markr

Mark, would you be more specific about tonal characteristics of the Sylvania Gold Brand 5687 and GE Jan 7044. If you've used the TungSol 5687, perhaps you could compare them?

BTW, Mark, I have followed your suggestion of starting new thread to discuss this topic. Therefore, you might want to respond in the new thread once it's up on the server.

I have been leaving my SWL9.0SE powered on 24/7.

It's tough to categorically state any particular piece of gear bests most others. This may be true in a given system and to a specific taste, but whether it applies to every system and to every sonic preference is questionable.

The Lamm LL2 Deluxe was preferrable to the Modwright SWL9.0 SE in my system, but I like a less solid state sound, and the Lamm does this extremely well while preserving extension and detail. I found the Modwright to be a bit "steely" and somewhat flatter sounding than the Lamm. The LL2 can be found used for about $2500.

I'm a Modwright fan, and presently own a Modwright Sony 999ES Platinum edition with tube recitifed power supply (with Mullard 5AR4 instead of the supplied Sovtek).