Modwright LS-36.5 vs Hovland HP-100 / HP-200

Do you have a first Gen '100?

I love my Hovland 100 pre amp and have for the last 5 years. It's time for new
line stage tubes... any recommendations??

I own the ModWright LS-36.5 and its companion PS-36.5 power supply and can tell you that as good as my SWL 9.0SE is this new combo simply blows it away on all counts! If you like your music to sound realistic and natural then this combo is formidable.

If you choose the '100, the "Tape" input is the most transparent(they don't tell you that in the manual).

I used some Raytheon JRP orange printing 5687 tubes, they were not lean at all, very nice tubes on voices.

The HP100 is colored to my ears, everything sounds the same.

The 9.0SE I had was definitely quieter than the Hovland 100, stronger bass presence, but leaner in the mids and missing some magic in the mid/high end. Hovland high end is so open and transparent yet smooooth and totally non-fatiguing.

I found the 9.0SE better than the HP100... so the 36.5...

Pre will be used in line with Bedini's Classic 100 monobloks and MG 3.6R. Phono stage in pre is not needed as I have separate one.

Hovland is coming out with the HP300.