Preamp... Solid State or Tube

Definitely consider the ModWright LS36.5 DM. I have a recent LS36.5 and couldn't be happier. After some tube upgrades; Synergetic Black fuse, WyWires PC and Daedalus DiD's I'm not in such a hurry to send it in for the DM power supply upgrade. It's a great preamp. I moved from a SWL 9.0 SE and that is a fine preamp but it's not as refined as the 36.5... really not even close. Really enjoyed my 9.0; it had great PRAT. The 36.5 has the PRAT too but it is so much more open it doesn't stand out as much. I'll eventually send my 36.5 in to become a DM because I'm sure it is a nice improvement. Dan's a great guy to work with. 

My last post started to response to maplegrovemusic post above

Agree, but who said one is better than the other? Isn't everyone just stating what they have or have experience with? No doubt when you start spending this kind of money there are many great SS preamps. I came real close to buying a Pass XP10 which is a fine piece. For 10K I'm sure the XP20 and other SS preamps in that range are to die for. Funny how everyone describes these great SS preamps,  they often refer to how close it sounds like tubes... same with amps. Best bet is listen before you buy, and if that's not an option talk with the designer and chances are they will sale to you direct and refund you if you don't like their product. 

There's both great tube and SS amps as well, but for my money and taste I prefer SS. I enjoy tube amps a lot and have heard a ton and have owned them as well. I personally don't want to mess with the cost and maintenance of retubing an amp. For the most part; retubing a preamp isn't too costly and tube life is far greater.

Everything listed on this post have been great options and I bet most of these companies, when you call the owner is probably the one answering the phone. You'll have to eat some shipping cost but I'd call them and demo the ones that interest you and see what happens from there. 

Good luck

ModWright LS100 is definitely not a balanced preamp. The LS 36.5 is balanced; not a balanced circuit but Dan uses output transformer to convert to a balanced signal; just his way of doing the same thing. The reason I went from a SWL 9.0 SE was because of my Pass amp was noisier than I would have liked and the 36.5 solved the noise issue running balance. The LS 100 I believe has XLR jacks and is just a cheater; same as if you do it with interconnects. Again that is not the case on the 36.5.

The LS 36.5 with its stock tubes is very good but I would agree sounds like a great solid state preamp, but you pull out the Sovtek's it comes with and things change. I'm running a NOS Mullard GZ34 and Cryoset EH 6H30pi's. With this combination it has transformed the LS 36.5 to another level; still not overly tubey but that's not what I wanted. I will add I threw in a Synergistic Black fuse and that was huge. My LS 36.5 is so revealing, open and musical that I enjoy listening for hours at a time. It's a fantastic preamp and I can't even imagine what the DM power supply adds to it. I wouldn't be surprised if how I have my single box unit running it wouldn't give the two chassy a run for its money.

I spoke with Dan about changing out the fuse and he said to try the Daedalus DiDs first as he didn't feel fuses change things much. I'm guessing he hasn't heard the Synergistic Blacks because it was huge. Anyway I did try the DiDs first and oh my they are fantastic. I took them over to my Dads system and he was floored as well on his Sonic Frontiers Line 1. The change was the same on his system as mine. Cymbals, piano and strings just resonate like there's no tomorrow. Things really opened up the space between instruments became better defined and tight but not at all sterile. Right now I only have the one set which I run on my LS 36.5. I will be getting another set for my CD player but added the SR Black fuses there first. 

I bought my DiDs from Dan and if you have bought any of his equipment he gives a nice discount on the DiDs and if you don't  like them I'm pretty sure he'll refund your money back.

As far as if the LS 36.5 will not be compatible with your other MW gear I wouldn't worry about that. I've never read anyone having a system match problem with it. I ran it over to my Dads system when I first received it and it sounded great on his ARC tube amp. 

If you are really happy with the rest of you MW equipment then the LS  36.5 is a no brainier and if you want to spend up you can always do the DM version now or later. I bought mine directly from Dan as there's no local dealer and he was great to work with. Pretty sure if you don't like it he will let you return it but I bet you don't.

David12,  the MW LS36.5 can be upgraded to the two box DM here in The States. It has to be sent in to ModWright as it is an extensive procedure. Unless something has changed I know Dan does offer it as I spoke with him on the phone when I ordered my unit. You being in the UK it likely would be too expensive to send it back so maybe it's not an option across the pond. I'm sure eventually I'll send mine into Dan but for now it is sounding great with the little tweaks and tube options I've done.