Thank you! I am approaching the deisgn of this integrated as a TRUE ACT OF LOVE AND PASSION! I have been SO SLAMMED with end of year demand, pending CES and other issues that I have not made as much progress as I would like, but the chassis design, input circtuitry, power supply demands and choice of output devices have all been determined - at least for prototyping. I also have a sample 1300VA power transforer (14Kg!).
I am shooting for end of Q2 for soonest release, but to be honest, it will NOT be released until I am certain that it is RIGHT.
I was uncertain how to approach this area of integrated products, vs. separates. My initial intent was a $4K-$5K product that would essentially be a combination of our LS 100/KWA 100 design but hybrid, with tube input stage. I soon found that the hybrid design - done RIGHT - would add more cost than expected, i.e. transformer coupled, no capacitors in signal path, zero negative feedback, for purest signal path. I also feel that the design should be min. 200W into 8 ohms and I plan to offer integral DAC for maximum integration. Chassis will necessarily be very rigid to accmodate oversided power transformer. Ultimately, this will be a more expensive and higher-end product than initially anticipated. It will be designed to be EXCEPTIONAL and the price will be determined by our end build cost. I am not indicating that this will be a COST NOT OBJECT design with stratospheric retail price, just that it will be in a different price-point than our current 100 series products.
I plan for it to be not so much of an integrated amp as a central music playback piece, requiring only ONE pair of HIGH QUALITY speaker cables, ONW digital cable or pair of analog interconnects, ONE HIGH QUALITY power cord, and a great pair of speakers. The DAC will allow for multiple digital inputs, including USB, SPDIF and AES/EBU(XLR). There will also of course be line-inputs for phono and other analog sources, but the principle will be to simplify, integrate and provide the shortest signal path with the absolute purest and most musical sound possible.
Aesthetics will be EXEPTIONAL and WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) will be very high. Not to mention the lack of cabling and multiple boxes will please the wife also. In its simplest form, the integrated amp could be fed digital from a central music server and you have at your fingertips, a library of potentially an unlimited library of music!
Thanks for all of your feedback and I will certainly contact beta testers when complete - and not JUST in the U.S.!
Dan Wright
President, ModWright Instruments Inc.
www.modwright.com
It will actually be a new unit all together, but the design, while intended initially to sound like a LS 100 and KWA 100 together is more likely to sound like a LS 100 and KWA 150SE!
Thanks,
Dan
Hi guys, the integrated project is proceeding. I have hesitated to say much more about it until I was closer to completion. Obviously it has taken longer than expected.
I will say this:
It will be 175W+ per channel.
It will be pure SS, not a hybrid.
It will have dual digital displays.
It will be the same size and styling as the KWA 100SE and LS 100.
Part of the delay has been because the scope of the design has changed several times. I now have the scope finalized, features determined, design topology complete and we are moving towards completion of design and testing.
Thanks,
Dan
Goal for price is < $5K for SS integrated. Optional DAC and Phono upgrades extra.
Thanks!
Dan
I like the bevel on the knobs and on the recesses of the push buttons. Have you considered carrying that bevel into the LED windows? Just an idea.
I see a smaller but tasteful bevel on the display windows viewing the photo on my computer screen.
Steve
Here is a photo of what the design will look like. There may be minor cosmetic changes, based on feedback from distributors and dealers that I meet while in Asia, but here is a pre-view of what we have in prototype form!Sure it has oodles of WAF (wife acceptance factor) What about AF (Affordability Factor) :roll: :roll:(http://www.modwright.com/images/photos/106/normal/kwi_200_photo.jpg)
PLEASE NOTE: Production is not planned for late Oct., as we have to order metalwork after overall design details are finalized, but I DO have a working prototype that is beautiful, powerful and we are very excited!
Thanks,
Dan W.
OK guys, final price set for KWI 200 = $4995.
Full production shipping in late Oct. We will have at LEAST one unit at RMAF.
It has turned out to be EXCEPTIONAL and is the ideal integrated solution to provide both simplicity, power and beautiful sound.
Thanks for those who have kept up with this and have been awaiting this announcement.
Sincerely,
Dan
OK guys, final price set for KWI 200 = $4995.
Full production shipping in late Oct. We will have at LEAST one unit at RMAF.
It has turned out to be EXCEPTIONAL and is the ideal integrated solution to provide both simplicity, power and beautiful sound.
Thanks for those who have kept up with this and have been awaiting this announcement.
Sincerely,
Dan
DAC will be Asynch. USB. The digital module is designed such that different DAC chips can be used and upgraded. The design will accept up to 24/192 data. The DACs used will be capable of accepting DSD data. As new tech develops, we will offer an upgrade path for our DAC module.Thanks for the response. That's what I wanted to hear! Another question: Will there be an IR input on the back panel?
Obviously the DAC design is still in final stages of design. It uses a proprietary precision oscillator circuit, rather than a simple crystal oscillator or simple clock design to offer EXCEPTIONALLY low jitter levels. We have invested in high-level programming and proprietary jitter reduction circuitry and will use the DAC chip that we feel sounds best.
Thanks,
Dan
Dan, I'm pretty sure he means a 2.5MM mono miniplug input for remote IR repeater (just in case one were to put the amp in an equipment cabinet and not have line-of-sight IR remote control use).That's exactly it. My system is in the middle of my studio apartment, but IR remotes are hit and miss depending on where I am. IR repeaters are less reliable than a Xantech-type miniplug connection on the rear panel. Also, IR repeaters are simply not attractive hanging from the front panel of a beautiful piece of equipment like a ModWright.
Dan,
I am a French owner of the KWI200. I have also an stock oppo 95 as source.
I have 5 questions:
- How sound KWI+DAC upgrade vs 95 stock vs oppo 95 mod (solide state or tube) ?
- To install dac upgrade, a local French Technical Service could do that it's necessary in your factory...
- How many inputs there are on the DAC others than the USB ? only one :? or two 8) ?
- Oppo 95 is an SACD player...the DAC upgrade could decode direct DSD signal 8) or it is necessary to do PCM convert in the oppo 95 :? ?
- And finally is the DAC upgrade available today ?
Thanks
Xavier
How do you like this integrated? Did it sound pretty good out of the box and did it get better with burn in?
Are you familiar with a French speaker line called Atohm? I see the KWI 200 was driving those at a show in Europe.I have also heard many time Atohm speaker. Very impressive sound : good bass extension and very dynamic and full medium... but i think the tremble is not extended and subtle as my current speaker (BW 805 Diamond).
I would have all individual components built and wiring prepped for install.
Hi and thank you for your positive feedback, RE the KWI 200!
We are now shipping units with DAC and Phono options installed. They are not a user-installable upgrade, but I can speak with our distributor about the feasibility of having the upgrade installed by a factory authorized technician.
i am glad that you mention the VALUE and IMPORTANCE of burn-in. The units DO take some time to burn in and the performance improves DRAMATICLY over this time!
Sincerely,
Dan W.
Hi, good suggestion. It would require a specific app to be written, and I am not a programmer. There may be apps already out there that can emulate 'Universal' remotes. The remote input is still IR, so I am not sure how that would work from the phone.
I know that Logitech has made this possible, but I a not sure if they are using bluetooth tech or what, to accept the signal from the phone. To the best of my knowledge, the smart phones, pads, etc., don't output an IR signal, but I could be wrong.
Thanks!
Dan
Hi, good suggestion. It would require a specific app to be written, and I am not a programmer. There may be apps already out there that can emulate 'Universal' remotes. The remote input is still IR, so I am not sure how that would work from the phone.
What you can do, is actually operate the KWI 200 as a straight amplifier, via the 'Bypass' inputs. In this mode, you could run your preamp/DAC, straight into the Bypass inputs of the amp and control volume from the preamp. This will bypass the internal preamp stage in the KWI 200.
We have done it with all of our tube preamps, in conjunction with the KWI 200 as a straight amplifier and it also works FANTASTIC this way.
Thanks!
Dan
I have the KWI-200 and think it is an outstanding amp, is there any reason why someone would need to add a separate LS preamp? is there any benefit and does this not defeat to purpose of an integrated amp in the first place? Just asking!
I can't seem to find any specs for the optional phono stage anywhere, but maybe you could post the details here?
I'm currently considering downscaling and looking for a really good integrated amplifier. Trouble is, I'd want one that also has a really good phono stage and that seems to limit my choices to a small handful at best. Sadly not a single one of the KWI 200 reviews I've found have even tested the phono stage, so whether or not it can be included in that small handful is an open question. The phono specs won't really give me the answer, of course, but I'd appreciate the indication they'll give me either way.
"Looking for a pair of speaker to match the KWI 200".
You have no worries, the KWI-200 has plenty of power, finesse and headroom to drive virtually any speaker, so sit back and enjoy this amp it is a gem.
Pingpong,
I have no knowledge of the Aerial 7T's, beyond from what I have read about them. . . very nice speakers indeed. The KWI-200 does have some warmth to it so if that something you like in an amp than I suspect that you will have good results since lack of power is not an issue.
My speakers are from Selah Audio and I have great results with the Modwright IA.
Hope that helps!
What you can do, is actually operate the KWI 200 as a straight amplifier, via the 'Bypass' inputs. In this mode, you could run your preamp/DAC, straight into the Bypass inputs of the amp and control volume from the preamp. This will bypass the internal preamp stage in the KWI 200.
We have done it with all of our tube preamps, in conjunction with the KWI 200 as a straight amplifier and it also works FANTASTIC this way.
Thanks!
Dan
I recently purchased a pair of Salk Soundscape 8s (3-way; 87 db sensitivity; 4 ohm) and am considering a KWI200 as an integrated with some warmth. I have 2 questions:
1. What are the benefits of pairing a preamp with the KWI200 as some have mentioned here rather than pairing with a regular power amp such as KWA100/150?
2. If my only sources are CDP and computer, could I connect a tubed external DAC directly to a KWA150SE and skip the preamp?
Terry
I am glad that you are enjoying our products!
The KWI 200 is a great power amp and integrated. It is true that there is something HEAVENLY about tubes in the preamp and solid state amplification.
Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Dan Wright