Does your Modwright SWL9.0SE have the tubed rectified power supply and all of the Modwright caps?
That model had several running changes to it over the years of production. I had bought just the regular SWL9.0SE without the tubed power supply and it only had about half of the Modwright branded caps in it. I liked it, but always thought it was a little hard and bright.
I started doing a bunch of research and found that indeed this model could be had several different ways.
Dan made only about 5 or 6 of the SWL9.0 preamps, then upgraded the model to the SWL9.0SE, then he introduced an upgraded version called the SWL9.0SE "Signature", which had all the goodies. Dan once told me he had made a mistake in not calling these different versions something else and it was confusing, but it was named after his son, so kept going with it.
I sold mine and bought one that had the tubed power supply and ALL Modwright caps, (about 16-20 IIRC). I changed out the power supply tube with a Mullard 5AR4 and the line stage tubes with Amperex 7119's and was in heaven. It was fantastic.
Getting the upgrade bug, I sold it and bought a Modwright LS-100. I was never really sure that the LS-100 was all that much better. I still have found memories of the full blown SWL9.0SE "Sig".
The cj is also an excellent preamp which I've owned, but not at the same time I had the Modwright. The cj will definitely be smoother and warmer. If you get the cj, make sure it has the Mullard 8080 tubes, (or get some).
That model had several running changes to it over the years of production. I had bought just the regular SWL9.0SE without the tubed power supply and it only had about half of the Modwright branded caps in it. I liked it, but always thought it was a little hard and bright.
I started doing a bunch of research and found that indeed this model could be had several different ways.
Dan made only about 5 or 6 of the SWL9.0 preamps, then upgraded the model to the SWL9.0SE, then he introduced an upgraded version called the SWL9.0SE "Signature", which had all the goodies. Dan once told me he had made a mistake in not calling these different versions something else and it was confusing, but it was named after his son, so kept going with it.
I sold mine and bought one that had the tubed power supply and ALL Modwright caps, (about 16-20 IIRC). I changed out the power supply tube with a Mullard 5AR4 and the line stage tubes with Amperex 7119's and was in heaven. It was fantastic.
Getting the upgrade bug, I sold it and bought a Modwright LS-100. I was never really sure that the LS-100 was all that much better. I still have found memories of the full blown SWL9.0SE "Sig".
The cj is also an excellent preamp which I've owned, but not at the same time I had the Modwright. The cj will definitely be smoother and warmer. If you get the cj, make sure it has the Mullard 8080 tubes, (or get some).