modwright anniversary SWL 9.0 pre amp

[hifinutt]

got one of these in situ currently . using with a ss class A power amp and bel canto vbs dac 3.5 and verity audio Rienzi speakers .using a very modest onkyo sacd player

this is the blurb on this valve pre which is exceptionally well priced at £3450 I believe

Celebrating our 17th year in business, the SWL 9.0 Anniversary Edition tube linestage is a tribute to our first product, the SWL 9.0SE.

The namesake of Dan Wrights son, Spencer Wright, born 9.0lb at birth, the SWL 9.0SE was released thirteen years ago with great success as a high performance and high value tube linestage.

The SWL 9.0 Anniversary Edition retains the 5687 driver tube and many of its features, but is a complete redesign from the original.

Unlike the original, the Anniversary Edition includes a modern headphone amplifier and optional phono stage.

Features:
•Four sets of RCA inputs, one of which doubles as Home Theater Bypass.

•Two sets of RCA Main Outputs.
•One set of RCA Tape Outputs.
Front panel controls: Power, volume, mute, input select, HT/BP select, headphone input.
•Hybrid headphone amp: 1.5 Watts (25 ohm to 600 ohm load)
•MWI remote: Volume and mute.
•Optional MM/High Output MC SS phono stage

http://www.modwright.com/products/sw...ry-edition.php

it feels really heavy and built like a brickhouse . it has a plastic remote unlike the metal of higher models but its good quality and does the job well . theatre bypass is so good to integrate with your AV system

two great big knobs for volume and selection feel really well made and real quality , the ergonomics of this pre are beautiful . lovely to use

very natural timbre and sound and very relaxing . its less resolving than the 36.5 and 36.5 dm [2 box ] but still is very enjoyable . it does not shake the chair like the grandinote proemio pre but its still very acceptable . piano is well reproduced and you could listen to this thing for hours without a hunt of fatigue . tubular bells have a nice ring

how dan modwright has done this at such a good price is remarkable .

[hifinutt]

some pics*

[JohnJo]

Ooh, the blue backlight looks nice against the black.

Think I prefer the black case to the silver.

Is there a retrofitable phono stage for this preamp?

Thanks for posting the pictures Phil, enjoyed these.

[hifinutt]

thanks , not sure about the retro fit phono stage

it is sounding delightful over the past few days . it might not grip you by the throat like the grandinote but its very very balanced in sound and smooth and you could just let it wash over you . played soundtracks from lion and orphee tonight and piano is great

normally I hate black as it shows the dust but I agree it looks good