Modwright PH 9.0X Tube Rolling Question

I did. Was my favorite tube amp ever, but I have since gone solid state. I used both Reflektor 6C45 and Reflektor 6H23p to replace all four tubes. Huge difference althroughout. The Amperex white globes are quite incredible, too, but cost around $300/pair. 

@lewm  I didn’t sub them. The PH9.0X uses one pair of 6C45 and a pair of 6922. The 6H23p is a Russian equivalent to the 6922. :)

@danmar123 and @audiosaurusrex This is incorrect. Electro Harmonix makes a gold pin 6C45, and the another, the best one is the Russian Reflektor 6C45. They are both better than the Sovtek, with the Reflektor much, much better. That said, they are very rare nowadays and very hard to come by. That said, there is no tube equivalent to the 6C45.

@testrun This thread is about the PH9.0, which typically doesn't have a tube rectified power supply. That said, the older SWP 9.0 did and rolling that tube led to substantial upgrades! Did you have a PH9.0 with a tube rectified power supply? I asked Dan about that years ago and he mentioned the SS and tube versions were not interchangable.

Hey @pindac - the unit you were able to demo was the SWP 9.0 SE, not the PH9.0. The PH9.0 was the SWP’s successor about 3-4 years ago and is completely different design (circuitry, tubes, chassis) than the SWP. The SWP was very good as it was, as I owned it prior to the PH9.0. But the PH9.0’s noise levels and openness drove it to be an even higher performer. The PH9.0X was an even further upgrade than the PH9.0 by removing all caps in the signal path and instead using high quality Lundahl transformers that brought the fidelity very close to the $8K Modwright PH150. I did find the PH9.0X upgrade worth the extra funds, for anyone who is interested. I’ve brought this up in other threads on this forum which can be found if people search for Modwright PH9.0.

@scm I didn’t have that upgrade when I had my PH9.0X, but Dan offered that rectifier tube and circuit with a lot of his other units, a few of which I owned. A rectifier-based power supply will deliver additional harmonics and remove any edge you may be feeling/hearing in the unit. Consider it a form of additional power filtering that both improves current delivery in some areas and sags in others. The result is a more musical gelling and oftentimes more realism.

Dan provides a sovtek because they are readily available, but if you swing for the upgrade be prepared to invest in a more premium and costly rectifier. My favorites in his power supplies have been the Philips 5R4GYS, which deliver unparalleled holography, harmonics and bloom. The EML 5U4G is also very good, perhaps more linear. I’ve tried at least a dozen other tubes, but I tend to go back to one of these. I no longer have any units with a tube rectified circuit, but I still hold on to these tubes in the case that one day I may have another. Hope this helps.

@scm I forgot to look into this for you, but I probably have something. Let me PM you and follow up with you tmw. 

@scm I'm glad the tube arrived safely for you and that you are enjoying it. Remember, it was my last one, and a spare, so I wouldn't be surprised if it sounds even better after 100 hours.

The Philips 5R4GYS is a magical tube in any Modwright rectified unit that can take it. In Modwrights, I've used them most recently in my LS-36.5 DM preamp, which I sold off two years ago, along with the SWP 9.0 SE (phono stage I owned prior to PS9.0X) and SWL 9.0 SE preamp (before the LS-36.5 DM). I also used it in the Modwright Transporter, which albeit is over a decade old still sounds equivalent to me than a Lampizator Baltic 3. Dan Wright makes incredible gear for their price points and is one of the priceless people in the audio industry.

@scm Agree the Reflektor in the 6922 spot is not great. The top end leaves one wanting more. However, I do highly recommend the Reflektor 6C45 if you can source them. They are much better than the stock Sovtek. I ended up selling a pair to the thread starter, @ericsch, who might be able to comment on those.