ModWright Transporter

I agree that not comparing the stock to the mod left the review missing something for me too. For component reviews, comparison to something that is a known is the only way a reader can have a frame of reference. Comparing the Transport to CD players only has so much value since the Transporter is an entirely different animal (file device vs. disk device). Any mod review should ALWAYS be compared to the stock.

For what it's worth, I don't doubt that the Transporter has advantages over the SB3. But for the price, the differences between them seem to be slimmer (no pun intended) than expected. My hope is that the ModWright widens that gap enough to justify the extra coin.

Well, I can say with complete confidence the Modwright is in a completely different league than the stock. I had the stock over a month before I had it modded. There was a 2 day turnaround dropping it off and picking it up, so I'm very familiar with the differences.

The stock is nice, but nothing special. Yes, it's really a great way to listen to music. I much preferred my Sony XA777ES, which was also modded by both Modwright and Richard Kern (parts only.. not tube stage). But I found myself preferring vinyl to the point that I was listening to records 90% of the time. The TP did have less of the digital glare, but tonally paled in comparison to the Sony. For me, there was still a fatigue factor I don't have with vinyl.

The modded is substantially better than stock. Tonally more resolving, better detail without the hard edges. More air around the instruments, which is what I really cherish in vinyl. Bass is well defined.. listening to Bill Evans Sunday at the Village Vanguard now. Instead of just throwing out all the usual audiophile phrases, I'll just say I feel a lot closer to the actual performance than ever before. This is very much like the best of vinyl.

I frankly can't imagine anyone hearing the stock vs Modwright preferring the stock.. no way, not even close. I could hear it the moment I fired it up. After about 2 hrs of warm up, seemed to really start revealing it's pedigree. I've only had it for a day now, and from past experience, I know the caps will need time to fully break in. I expect it to get even better. I won't be retiring my vinyl, but it won't be pulling double duty anymore. I'm even considering buying cd's again, which I haven't done the last couple of years.

I don't have any connection to Modwright other than living near him and being a repeat customer, in case anybody wonders.

Jamnperry - congratulations, you are the first reviewer I've read that actually compares the mod to the stock. If you would, please come back and write more after you've had time to sit with some of your favorite recordings. I'll be interested especially about your impressions of fatigue after several days with it.

Also, tell us a little about your accompanying equipment if you would. Are you running it with a pre-amp or direct?

Thanks for your input!

Jamnperry, congrats from me also. It is clear you are happy and I daresay anyone in your situation would be equally happy.

For someone like me though, I'd still want both units on hand for an even comparison, and I would want to not be financially pre-vested in the result (ie, whichever I prefer, it doesn't cost me more than simply the purchase of the preferred product).

By "your situation" above, I meant (1) you were already a MW customer (indicating you had belief in the concept) and (2) you had already spent the money on the TP mod, which *for some people* leads to an expectation that the result of spending the money is positive, and expectation leads to perception, correct or not.

I would love to be able to appear on this forum and say I compared the two in my room with my gear with plenty of opportunity to switch back and forth, without outlay and preferred the MW. Or preferred the stock TP, whichever. But the environment as it is allows one to evaluate the stock TP risk-free, but not the MW.

As a side comment, this audiophilia is a strange disease, in that it makes us want what our peer describes without any concrete reason to believe that it will work the same way for us. Of course, over the years I've been in this hobby, I have been plenty guilty of this myself, but I like to think I am a little more cognizant of my own emotions now, which hopefully leads to a more rational decision, one that is made based on MY environment. This includes but is not limited to: budget, tastes, room, gear, WAF, hearing acuity, type of music preferred, type of presentation preferred, and so on. A quick review and understanding of this list should make it clear that, given the possible permutations, NO ONE can be sure of what a given component will deliver based on someone else's description of it. As such, I read reviews nowadays as entertainment, not unlike light fiction.

Shazam.. I'm running it through my Modwright SWLP preamp. I may try it direct, but it would have to be quite a bit better to go through the hassle of switching since I'm spinning vinyl. But for the sake of the hobby, once it's broken in, I'll try it that way and let you know. That would sure simplify things if you only have one source.
Kck.. I totally understand your perspective. It wasn't an easy decision for me either even though I was familiar with Modwright's philosophy. My first foray was a simple parts upgrade on the XA777ES. I was very happy with that but stopped short of the full tube stage. Then when he came out with his first preamp, I was able to borrow it from a local dealer and audition it, comparing it to my Audible Illusions Modulas 3A, which I immediately bought. While I was confident I'd get a quality product again from them, this time it was more about salvaging a collection of music I'd built up for years. It just had lost appeal compared to vinyl.Budget wise, I came out about even after selling a few other things I wasn't using enough. Time will tell how much of my listening shifts back to the digital spectrum. At this point, overwhelming positive reaction.
While I agree in principal that what works for one won't necessarily work for another, quality issues are quantifiable. Meaning, I can say confidently that a Daiwoo/Sharp/Panasonic/whatever piece of crap will not be better or equal to the Modwright for anyone. It's not a matter of taste or system dependent components. While the stock Transporter is a quality product, it just can't compete in a qualitative sense. There's no area that I'd prefer the stock over the modded. It's not a simple tonal shift, or just more detail,etc, with other compromises. More like an overhaul. Personally, I put sources (CDP's, turntables) in a different category than cables, amps, speakers, tweaks, etc. You can say with some degree of confidence what will work. It's what follows that shape the sound, what's 'not limited to: budget, tastes, room, gear, WAF, hearing acuity, type of music preferred, type of presentation preferred, and so on' in our personal environments, as you said. I know it sounds dogmatic and opinionated. I really don't mean to be. I have bought things that really didn't work for me, and I don't presume my amps or speakers will work for everyone.. I know they won't and I hesitate to add them into the equation.
Anyway.. really good points, Kck.