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Sonics of tube modifications from Modwright

I have the Sony Modwright 999ES with Signature Truth mods. As you know it is highly regarded for redbook performance. And I think my player is very good. But, a dealer who I have done business with characterizes the sound of this player and others from Modwright as lacking transparency. I don't agree. I always thought of transparency as hearing into the music or like hearing through to the music. I've not noticed a lack of transparency in my 999ES, but I've only been in this hobby a few years and possibly I'm missing something.(Stereophile defines transparency below.) Whether Sony-platforms, Denon platforms etc., do you enjoy the transparency of your modded modwright player?

From the Stereophiles glossary:
"transparency, transparent 1) A quality of sound reproduction that gives the impression of listening through the system to the original sounds, rather than to a pair of loudspeakers. 2) Freedom from veiling, texturing, or any other quality which tends to obscure the signal. A quality of crystalline clarity."
foster_9
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
my experiences at ces tell me today's products are designed to be neutral. very rarely do you find a "warm" sounding component.

resolution sells. coloration is criticized, especially veiling and masking "information".

i'm surprised at how many audiophiles use the term "warm" and "rich" to describe the sound of components when such characterizations are what manufacturers are trying to avoid.
chuckie
44 posts
 
Foster 9
I also have a Modwright Sony 999ES with Signature Truth mods and I don't hear a lack of transparency that is espoused by your dealer.Jax2,I think pointed to the dealer as having a "conflict of interest" in which I believe Jax2 is correct in his assessment which I also agree upon. This unit has surpassed my highest expectations. I don't have the "tubed" power supply as of yet but plan to contact Dan in a few weeks to get one.Let your own ears decide not someone who has other motives with regard to steering you to another product.

Chuckie
tvad
9,467 posts
 
The degree of coloration I mentioned above is small. In fact, had I not previously owned a less colored digital source, I'd probably also say my Modwright 999ES is uncolored. The differences are hard to detect unless one has the opportunity to A/B components in the same system. A luxury I had.

I believe the new Modwright 9100ES is more neutral than the Modwright Sony 999ES. This is based on listening in the Modwright room at T.H.E. Show, and on comments made by others who have owned or heard both.

My experience with the Modwright SWL9.0 preamp was that it was a neutral, uncolored component.

I have a hard time reconciling the dealer's comments about coloration in Modwright components. Overall, coloration is not a quality I attribute to Modwright gear.
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