SAS 10A or 11A or Juicymusic BB Extreme or Modwright 9.0se?

michaelmickj7 · « **on:** 3 Dec 2005, 08:38 pm »

Hi hope you knowledgeable folks can help me out.
I'm unable to audition these pre amps as I live in sunny old England but have read good things about all of them.I'd decided on the Modwright,then read the Juicymusic reviews and by chance came upon some comments about the SAS pre amp.

Which one would suit my tastes best? I listen to different types of music but at least 50% of the time to reggae.
I listen to vinyl only and have a dedicated phono stage Graham Slee Era Gold.
I'm looking for a non fatiguing sound whihc is quite dynamic, but smooth and with a weighty and tuneful bass presentation.

I've emailed Steve at SAS but had reply as yet.

many thanks for any advice you can provide,
regards,
Mick

tvad4 · « **Reply #1 on:** 3 Dec 2005, 08:55 pm »

Quote

I'm looking for a non fatiguing sound whihc is quite dynamic, but smooth and with a weighty and tuneful bass presentation.

That describes the Modwright.

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #2 on:** 3 Dec 2005, 10:09 pm »

Those are the three amps on my short list as well. However, living in the UK you may want to give some local products a try. Such as the Audio Note and EAR brands

arthurs · « **Reply #3 on:** 3 Dec 2005, 11:14 pm »

I'd add the Dodd mid to my list as well.....

jon_010101 · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 12:12 am »

Your list is similar to mine... I ordered a Juicymusic Peach a few days ago. If you are already happy with your phono preamp, you might want to consider the Peach over the Blueberry Extreme. It offers a bit more flexibility and is likely a superior line stage if you don't need phono.

Of course, if the Blueberry Extreme's phono preamp is as good as reviewers have claimed, you may be able to sell your Graham Slee and further simplify your system (always a good thing!).

Sadly, I cannot make any comments as to how these units actually sound. But, I'll report next week after the Peach arrives.

michaelmickj7 · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 12:14 am »

Thanks for the replies. I've not heard of the Dodd,but I'll look it up.

The pre-amps I've mentioned all seem reaonably priced and have great reviews. £2000 is my absolute maximum and I'm not sure how much the Audionote or EAR products are. US audiophiles seem to have more choice and the products are more reasonably priced.

Can anyone tell me how the three pre-amps compare to each other in terms of bass response ? Whatever I buy must be an improvement over the Musical Fidelity A3cr pre amp I have or I'll have wasted my money.

Thanks again,
Mick.

Rocket · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 03:56 am »

Hi Mick,

I think modwright is coming out with a phonostage preamp version soon. It may be worth sending an email.

Regards

rod

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 04:07 am »

Mick....Welcome to AC....What amp and speakers are you using ?

michaelmickj7 · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 10:14 am »

Hi thanks again.I have a Gyrodec with Tom Evans DC PSU,Schroder Model 2, Dynavector DV20X HO cartridge, Graham Slee Era Gold phono stage, Musical Fidelity A3cr pre/amp, PMC FB1+ speakers.

My system sounds quite good at the moment after tinkering with VTA,VTF and damping.The bass is good but I still think my system errs on the upper mids and highs rather than the lower mids and lower frequencies.
I'd like to be able to feel rather than hear the bass a little more.

The PMC speakers are quite revealing and are quite lively sounding, and with the Gyrodec being extrememly neutral I'd like to add weight and warmth.

Steve from SAS kindly replied to me but unfortunately he doesn't ship overseas so I'm down to the Juicymusic and Modwright.
I like the look of the Juicymusic and the fact that it has a built in phono stage,but it may not have the bass weight the Modwright has.I'm not too sure that's why I'd appreciate advice from anyone who's heard the two products.

cheers.

Rocket · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 11:05 am »

Hi,

I think loanwolf42 has both products, he might be able to let you know his thoughts. Although our comments are subjective as you really need to have a listen to the products in your system prior to purchasing something.

I've mostly had good luck purchasing equipment off the net and have only been disappointed once i.e. ps audio hca - 2 amp.

Good luck

Rod

michaelmickj7 · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 11:23 am »

Thanks I'll try to contact loanwolf if I can.I think getting peoples on opinions on forum sites is more reliable than going to the shop as the never use the same cables, they components will never match and the room acoustics are invariably a lot better.Magazines often have ulterior motives to promote items.
The good thing about these products is that they are not widely known but have good reputations whihc tend to suggest they must be very good.

regards,
Mick.

toobluvr · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Dec 2005, 01:01 am »

Quote from: arthurs

I'd add the Dodd mid to my list as well.....

Based on what I hear with my Dodd 120 monos I would not hesitate at all to take a serious and hard look at the Dodd preamps....

I own the Blueberry Xtreme, and am quite happy. Having never heard them, I cannot compare it directly against your other shortlisted preamps. Excellent reputations all, so I'm sure any of 'em would be extremely satisfying.

But I believe the BB is the only one with an on-board phono section, and as another poster said, you can simplify things by eliminating your outboard phono section and xtra interconnect. The BB phono section is very good indeed.

Voted best of 2005 by Steve Marsh of 6moons:

http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/bo05/steve.html

Can it beat the bass performance of your current Musical Fidelity? That I don't know. I don't tear things down like that and listen to individual elements. I listen to the sound as a whole. I can say I've heard the MF pre in a friends system, and it struck me as a very dynamic unit indeed.
It had lots of slam and speed. But it does not provide the "rightness" that the BB does...the organic wholeness and richness, the detail, dimensionality and air that a good tube unit does. Nor does it possess the musicality or "emotional pull" of the BB. Bear in mind that I am biased toward tubes.....for these very reasons. So while the MF may indeed offer better bass, personally I am willing to give it up to get these other characteristics.

good luck in your search!

alotaklipsch · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Dec 2005, 02:59 am »

Juicy music and Mark Deneen are wonderful to work with. In my system I had RF issues, If you have a juicy music pre-amp, definately pay up for a 1950's pinch waist amperex 6922 USA, it makes a world of difference.

IMHO I am a lazy ass, and need remote, I vote MODWRIGHT, and Dan is wonderful top work with too.

Best phono for the $$$ is MIniMax, and Bill is a STUD too work with.

JMHO's, YMMV(NOT)

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Dec 2005, 12:20 pm »

Quote from: Rocket

Hi,

I think loanwolf42 has both products, he might be able to let you know his thoughts.

loanwolf42 ain't here

...but lonewolfny42 can help....

Good luck....both are quality products from guys who

care about music and their customers.

[/list:u]

Chris[/list:u]

Eric · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Dec 2005, 05:31 pm »

I have heard the SAS (which I own) and the Modwrigth. Both are wonderful. The SAS is more dimensional and warm. It is more tube-like in the classical sense. The modwright is very clean and detailed. Liek I said, both are wonderful

michaelmickj7 · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 Dec 2005, 04:00 pm »

Unfortunately the SAS is out of the equation as he doesn't ship overseas.

I've heard the Modwright is lively sounding and I'm afraid it may be similar to the Musical Fidelity which as someone said is very detailed, dynamic and revealing but IMHO lacks a little weight. It's got bass alright, but the mids and highs seem to have more emphasis.
I'm thinking the Juicymusic maybe more of what I'm looking for.
As my TT is very neutral and my speakers are monitors from PMC I'd like to add a little warmth whilst retaining deep tight and most importnatly tuneful bass.

I've read reviews of the Musical Fidelity pre/amp and the pre has had universal praise.It is supposed to be on the warm side, but people who have chance to check the amp on it's own have said the amp is a little lean in comparison.I don't have the chance to do this but I'm wondering if it would be better to upgrade my power amp rather than the pre amp.

woodsyi · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 Dec 2005, 04:37 pm »

Mick,

Modwright SWL 9.0 SE replaced my Von Gaylord LAD2 LS which is a very good one with full 6SN7 bloom. My immediate perception with the change was a vast improvement on pace and impact. Then as I settled into listening for a long term I noticed a slight trade off on the "warmth" of female voice" but I still have it in my system becauce the gain in impact and clarity is just phenomenal. Instruments really come alive with Dan's line stage. I am in the process of tube rolling on SWL 9.0 and my input and driver tubes (6sn7s) on my amps to see if can get a trifle warmer on female vocals, but it's only an issue because I am really finicky with female voice (especially Operatic). In my experience preamp has more impact on the sound than the amps. Amp change is more like fine tuning (as long as they are of comparable specs) compared to line stage change. I hope this helps.

toobluvr · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 Dec 2005, 05:43 pm »

Quote from: michaelmickj7

Unfortunately the SAS is out of the equation as he doesn't ship overseas.

I've heard the Modwright is lively sounding and I'm afraid it may be similar to the Musical Fidelity which as someone said is very detailed, dynamic and revealing but IMHO lacks a little weight. It's got bass alright, but the mids and highs seem to have more emphasis.
I'm thinking the Juicymusic maybe more of what I'm looking for.
As my TT is very neutral and my speakers are monitors from PMC I'd like to add a little warmth whil ...

I'm fairly confident the Blueberry (or Peach, for that matter) will add the body and warmth that you seek. There will be a noticable improvement in mids and highs as they come into balance for a more organic overall presentation. You will get a bloom that I've never heard SS do. The sound will be less bleached, and more engaging. Emotional connection to the music will be more easily achieved. Palpability, dimensionality and air will all improve. Again, this is my tube bias showing, but it is also based on direct experience with both units (albeit brief with the MF).

The BB slightly leans to the warm, full and round...but in a very good way. Not in any way a vintage, dark and thick "tooooby" sound. But you do know you are listening to tubes. It is still quite transparent, lively and incisive. The bass might be a bit softer and rounder than with your MF, but it will be tuneful and musical, with plenty of detail and articulation.

I am in complete agreement w the 6Moons review. It squarely hits the nail head in its characterization of the BB sound and performance:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/juicymusic/blueberry.html

Changing your amp to tubes will also move you in a similar direction. But whether your objective can be better accomplished this way, I don't know.
There's a popular (and generally accepted) school of thought that says if only one piece is gonna be tubes, make it the preamp. Adherents claim that if done right, it gives you the best of both worlds.

If you get the BB, make sure you roll some tubes. The BB, perhaps more than any other piece of tube gear in my experience, somehow really manages to reveal the inherent characteristics of each tube. Nice feature for "seasoning to taste"! And it doesn't use a truckload of tubes, so not insanely pricey to use good NOS.

Dave G · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 Dec 2005, 07:43 pm »

I can't offer any advice, but I have to say that this is a great thread for anyone like me who is contemplating adding a tube preamplifier to his system. Even though you've discussed only a handful of preamps, I think you've all done a nice job of describing the different things the various preamps have to offer and why folks with different tastes might want to choose one preamp over the other. Thanks -- it's been a big help.

Dave

jon_010101 · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 Dec 2005, 02:09 am »

Although, admittedly, this is a useless post:

All this preamp talk is making me very impatient! My Peach won't arrive until Monday!