Preamp: Mcintosh vs Modwright?


I asked this on the Bryston board over at Audio Circle and was hoping that some of you Agoners may provide some help.

I am looking for a tube pre to go with my 14b (speakers are OB1's) and am looking at either a
Modwright SWL 9.0SE or a Mcintosh C220.
This would be moving my Musical Fidelity CD-Pre24 to handle just cd playback and no preamp duties.

Feature wise, the Mac is more than I will use (no turntable in my system), where as the Mod, being
only a linestage will probably be enough to handle any future components.

Has anyone had the chance to compare these two pre's with a Bryston amp?

If I go for the Modwright, I would get it with the SWL Tube Recificatication Upgrade.
Cost wise, this would make about $3000 for a new SWL vs $3300 for a new C220.
I realize on the used market (Agon), the Mac may command a slightly higher resale price than the Mod.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
hpower
From your description, I think the SWL with the tube supply is just what I am after, providing I get a simular result with my Bryston.
Machman seems to have gotten that with his 3B.

I just emailed the one and only SWL seller to get a little more info on his unit.
His ad mentions that he had Dan add a set of balanced outputs and he is asking more than you did.
Have you seen that ad, what do you think?

His has been for sale for 17 days with over a 1000 views... hmm.
Maybe it is an old/early model, serial# 005515SE and he is getting less interest?
hi hpower:

i had the modwright pre with the ss supply. i would still be surprised if anything modwright does has a very tubey character. his approach is linearity. keep in mind the advantage of the mac is the tone controls. a feature offering a benefit to many
I may be wrong, but I doubt if it's truly a balanced output. Dan would answer that, but I thought a balanced output would be a significant change in design. Aside from that, it's a newer version or an upgraded older version because of the mute modification. There was also a price war about a month ago and I saw a couple advertised for $1300. Maybe people waiting. Or it may be sold and he didn't update the ad.
Anyway.. good luck
MrT,

I think you are right in that the tube power supply does not transform the SWL into and older Conrad Johnson but from what I have read it should lean to "slightly" warmer sound with a little more weight and impact.
The Mac does offer a lot more bonus features like the tone controls but I wonder if I would be paying a premium for features that I would not use, most notably the phono section.
I have noticed a C220 listed here and it is located only 90 minutes away, I think he is asking $2499.

Jam,

I asked Dan about this particular unit and he said it in fact it has an extra set of single ended outputs added, wire to XLR plugs. definitely not a true balance output.
The seller also got back to me and he said that he purchased it about 10 months ago and recently had Dan add the "balanced output".
He has a sale pending, the buyer is suppose to be sending him a cheque and is expecting it to show up in the first of the week.
The rectifier doesn't at all make it sound like a Conrad Johnson. I had a CJ 17LS that the Modwright replaced. That preamp had a nice seductive sound but I was amazed at how much detail was glossed over after hearing the Modwright. You're right that it's still not a CJ.
Personally, I've never felt a need for tone controls. I also had Dan put in a Dact attenuator and gave up the remote control volume for a bit more resolution.
The rectifier tube type makes a difference too. I just replaced mine with a new Mullard Blackburn Dual Getter and it's totally great.