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Will a Conrad Johnson fan like Modwright LS 36.5

I am looking to buy a tube preamp. I was pretty much set on the CJ 16LS or the 17LS2. There hasn't been one for sale in a few months which has caused me to consider other brands. This has brought me to the Modwright LS36.5 preamp. Reviews seem to indicate this to be a good preamp. I like what I've read. However one question which arises is concerning the sound stage. CJ has always been considered "polite" which in my understanding means the SS is pushed back somewhat with "tame" dynamics which come across as smooth rather than ragged or raw. That is the sound i like and I've found the CJ to be very enjoyable.
One thing I do not like is a very forward SS which is agressive with a ragged edge. I have not seen the Modwright described this way but I would like to hear from others who are familiar with the Modwright. Will the SS be a lot more forward than the CJ? Will a CJ fan also enjoy the Modwright?
128x128artemus_5
downunder
1,329 posts
 
Wait for a cj prem 16 to come up. It is a wonderful pre amp and competitive with anything. I much prefer the sound to the CT5 which is a little hifi sounding in comparison.

BTW, if you want a cj ART1, let me know as I might be selling mine soon as I have recently upgraded to the ART3.

cheers
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,966 posts
 
Downunder, I'd love to have the ART but I think it is probably out of my budget.......................well, unless you are feeling generous and could make me a good deal. I'd promise to give it a good home. (-:

BTW did you mean to say that you liked the CT5 better than the 16?
downunder
1,329 posts
 
Hi Artemus

No, I did not mean the other way round.

the prem 16 is definately IMO the better pre amp at musical enjoyment than the CT5.

you will notice that cj have dumped the 6H30 tube and gone back to 6922 for their new GAT pre amp. Alah ART/prem 16 except with a mofset output stage.
IMO the CT5 will also be de-released soon, when they use up all their inventory. They will then go back to a 6922 based pre amp- no doubt trickling down from their GAT.

cheers
mtdking
157 posts
 
Odd because I thought the CT 5 was much better then the my LS16. I do know that the CT 5 takes forever to break in because of the Teflon caps but in no way did I think the LS16 was even close.

You can call ED at CJ and he will tell what he thinks. He is a pretty honest guy and lord knows he knows them all well.

Amazing how two people can have completely different results. You may need to try on your own and see what you think.
lubes3
35 posts
 
I sold my Modwright LS 36.5 because it didn't have enough gain or low-end power for my tastes. I will say Dan Wright was really great to deal with, as he modded the power supply to give me a stronger low-end, but not enough after hearing the CT-5. I was also disappointed inthe bass and dynamics. It was very musical and set up a decent sound stage. I replaced it with the CJ CT-5. This preamp is probably the best I've heard in my 305 years in this hobby. Plenty of gain, dynamics, resolution, frequency extension and power. It still has a bit of that CJ midrange magic, but nothing like my old CJ PV2A, which was a bit colored.

Artemus 5,

This will probably be my last preamp. I'm using it with a Spectron Premiere power amp, modded VPI HW19mkIV w/JMW 10 tonarm/Dyna Karat 17C3, newly acquired Whest PS.30r, modded McIntosh MVP-871 and PBN Montana EPS 2 speakers.
I've finally acheived a system synergy I never thought possible.

Sorry for the rant, but I would go for the CT-5 if you can swing it.
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