Modwright keeps on rockin' @ CES!
It’s 1:15pm Thursday afternoon… I have to make it to Dan Wright’s room before they are all packed up and ready to go back home. John: have you seen Dan Wright? “No, but check his room, I think someone is in there now” Ok, off to the other corridor, down the hallway… Yes! Dan is in the room…
I have known Dan pretty much since the beginning of my career at PFO, some 6+ years ago. Back then (and for some time to come), Dan was the go-to person to have your Sony CD/SACD player modified. His modifications were truly original and impressive. Stock Sony players sounds ok, but Dan was somehow able to get SO much more performance out of them, it was quite funny actually. Many well-known high profile ‘philes ended up going the route of Modwright. Even back then I knew that Dan was going to be going places – success stories like Dan are what make this industry so much fun and inspirational. A guy in his garage… Now where did I hear that before… oh… right, Apple!
Goodie, Goodie, Dan sure knows how to create superb products that are of great value. Take for example the Transporter (read my review of the stock unit right here at SF). A great music streaming “player” to begin with, Dan ads his proprietary tube based analog output stage to create a reference level playback monster that feels home in most anyone’s system. A full review is scheduled as soon as my Transporter gets the proprietary vitamins and upgrades, so stay tuned!
Speakers of choice for Dan were Emerald Physic’s striking looking RED speakers, all linked up to Dan’s very own reference level pre-amp and phono stage; while a smashing looking Red Point Audio BLUE model D was the analog source of choice. I didn’t have time to spin my own demo disc, but what sound I did hear was very good indeed. Dynamic, nicely extended and superb focus (which is what Emerald’s do rather well) the sound was my kind of thang. Job well done Dan! Here’s to many, many more years of success and good fortunes!
For more info, contact Dan Wright @ www.modwright.com
| Permalink | DAC mods , DACs $1k to 5k , Show Superstars , Tube Pre-Amps , Vegas 08 , Writer: Danny Kaey | Posted by Danny Kaey on Jan 14 '08
VTV EXPO - DeHavilland
DeHavilland was rocking their extremely popular $3995 Mercury 2 Cascode preamp and $5995 IOS stereo amp with 25 SET watts. Slimming in black, the $4000 Hyperion 938 speakers were doing that thing they do - kicking ass and taking names.
| Permalink | Amplifiers $3k to 6k , Pre-Amps $2k to 8k , Shows and Expos , Tube Amplifiers , Tube Pre-Amps | Posted by Josh Ray on Nov 21 '05
Dared Mini Tube Gear
Funky little company I've never heard of, Dared is all up in that retro tube game. Shown is the Mini VP-300B monoblock amps at an extremely cheap $890/pair and the tubed SL-2000A preamp with remote (volume buttons only) at an amazingly low $399. The Mini line is only one of four lines of products, slotting in below their Flagship and Imperial lines and above their New Classic line. Review from Good Sound gives the downside of 300B tubes:
"Rock out at ear-splitting volumes? Look elsewhere...Enjoy intimate small-group jazz, pop, folk, or chamber music? Give these a listen right away."
Basically, small tube watts for Nora Jones and big solid state for System of a Down. Makes sense in some bizarre kind of way, doesn't it?
Dared Tube Audio
Dared Mini Tube Review
| Permalink | Amplifiers Under $1k , Pre-Amps under $2k , Tube Amplifiers , Tube Pre-Amps | Posted by Josh Ray on Nov 09 '05
Lamm LL2 Tube Preamp Review
To give you something to compare the DeHavilland Mercury 2 below to, here is the Lamm LL2 Deluxe tube preamp priced competitively at $4690. Here's what Stereophile has to say about Lamm's entry in the price range:
"In relative terms, I've heard more expensive preamps than this, but I've never heard one that performs better; in absolute terms, judged for its musicality, the quality of its parts and construction, and its sheer design ingenuity, the Lamm LL2 is worth every penny they're asking for it."
Check out the review for what makes this amp tick. As with the DeHavilland, it's surprising so much advancement can be made with tube technology that has been around for decades now.
Lamm LL2 Tube Preamp Review [Stereophile]
Lamm Industries Home
Permalink | | Posted to Pre-Amps $2k to 8k | Tube Pre-Amps
Prima Luna Prologue 3 and 5 Review
"6Moons Srajan" finds some cheap tube love from Prima Luna's $1295 preamp and $1295 amp putting out 36 watts. The man behind Prima Luna says this about his company:
"As an old veteran in the retail trenches, I had some input into certain features. Make sure you check out how these things are put together. There's nobody in the business right now who can beat us on how well our components are crafted."
Pretty big words. Srajan agrees these pieces are damn fine values with stellar workmanship. Not giant killers, he says, but definitely on his highly recommended list.
Prima Luna Prologue Review [6Moons]
Prima Luna Home
Permalink | | Posted to Amplifiers $1k to 3k | Pre-Amps under $2k | Tube Amplifiers | Tube Pre-Amps
Review: WAVAC PR-T1
Following up our post on the crazy expensive Goldmund Telos 600, the Japanese WAVAC PR-T1 pre-amplifier is $30k and, ahem, doesn't come with a remote control. That's all you need to know. Oh, it's one of the best pre-amplifiers in the world, so says Wayne Donnelly of Enjoy the Music's Superior Audio side project. One of the best, that is, without a remote-frickin'-control.
Deal-breaker for us, but this tubed triller just may be your ticket. WAVAC separates its components into three boxes - power supply, power supply control and the shiny volume knob. Now, some believe remotes degrade the sound. Hey, if you can drop 30 grand on a pre-amp then you've probably got the dedicated listening room to go with it and a remote control really doesn't matter, now does it?
WAVAC [WAVAC Home]
WAVAC PR-T1 Review [Superior Audio]
Permalink | | Posted to Pre-Amps $20k and up | Tube Pre-Amps
