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Modwright SWL 9.0SE Pre ... your thoughts welcome

Hey, I have decided to dive into tubes ... well, you get my meaning. I was steered towards the Modwright SWL 9.0SE and so far have read some good things. I'm running a Levinson ML-27 for power and Paradigm S-4's for speakers. My transport is nothing special, Denon DVD-2200 but I am also looking at running a tubed DAC in hopes of bringing the system a little more alive. Right now the system seems a little flat ... not very exciting. Plenty of volume bass end it fantastic but the mid and upper end seem very packaged. Imaging is not very good ... High and mid frequencies don’t seem to blend well. Some CD's have fair to good sound but most seem pretty "plain". Just doesn’t have that delicacy I'm looking for. I seem to listen the SPEAKERS and not the music. I recently listened to an older set of Paradigms pushed by a small tubed integrated and I was amazed. The tubed gear really made the Paradigm speakers come to life ... I was set back in my chair. Vocals were clear and crisp … the sound was extremely detailed and I had to be drug out of the room. Since then I have really started to pick a part my system.

Cables are Signalcable Silver Resolution Balanced and Cobalt Ultimate speaker cables. I'm running Signal cable "Magic" power cables. Nothing fancy but it should do the job.

Is this upgrade going to help? Has anyone experienced this?

Any better preamps in the $1500-2000 range? What about Levinson SS preamps?

Help me out … Please
128x128horseface
Post removed 
kehut's avatar
kehut
668 posts
 
Tvad,

Hi Grant...Indeed nice to know. I am awaiting my 9.0SE from Dan at Modwright, perhaps within a week or two hopefully. Having just upgraded to all Poiema!!! IC's from the orig. Poiema!, I have already had the pleasure to hear Roberts latest P3 sound Amazing even without a full break-in period. I have a brand new (more break-in.... Arrrrgg!).... Electraglide Epiphany PC ready to hook up to the 9.0SE.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts thus far on the SWL 9.0SE. The more I read, the more I cant wait to get this pre amp in house!...BTW..Did you get the upgraded late 50's NOS Tung Sol tubes?
dwright
35 posts
 
Hi Ken, thanks for your support and rest assured that your unit is going to ship by tomorrow.

Thanks,

Dan W.
kehut's avatar
kehut
668 posts
 
Hi Dan,

Great! Thanks very much for the heads-up. Looking forward indeed to the 9.0SE!!
ije
29 posts
 
Happy to chime in here as well. Mr. Wright is working his magic on a SWL 9.0SE with Bybee Filters and the Tung Sol tubes.

Oh how I am itching to get my greasy paws on it next week. The experience so far talking to Dan has been great. He is a pleasure to deal with.

I ordered mine thru Jay at Audio Revolution. The experience with Jay has been a very good one as well. Highly recommended.
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