2. amps-preamps
  3. 184488-38070

WhestTHREE signature phono pre vs. ModWright PH 9.0X

I've mostly got my phono preamp upgrade down to a shortlist shootout choice between the WhestTHREE and the ModWright PH 9.0X. They're pretty much at the same price point (the MW is ~$300 more than the whest, give or take). 

What I listen to mostly: Jazz & Jazz Fusion primarily (I do have things from many other genres, but want to tune my system to Jazz since that's 95% of my listening on vinyl).

What I like: wide soundstage, incredible mid-range, detail, some warmth

What I don't like: clinical! 

--

There are a lot of passionate Whest owners out there all over forums raving about them, but I've also seen people mention that they can be a little on the clinical side. 

The modwright has less hands-on info out there that I could find, but the few things I could find review it very highly. 

If owners of either could comment on their experience and some objective pros / cons of either, it would be helpful! 

--

I did have someone recommend the Gold note PH10 to me some time ago, and while it is at a lower price point, I've seen a lot of mixed reviews. 

128x128mmcgill829
mmcgill829's avatar
mmcgill829 OP
155 posts
 

@davehg Thanks for the update and great info!

I still havent decided on whether to go for an umami red or etsuro cobalt. My hesitancy around it is mostly because I have trouble justifying paying big bucks on a cartridge that will just have to get replaced in a year or two of use. The 4-6k price tags on these is a bit hard to swallow with this in mind. We'll see!

I've been a bit distracted lately with getting my digital front end set up - and since October of last year I've replaced my speakers, amplification, added an entire digital set (streamer + dac), and am working on replacing cables. yeesh!

jc51373
540 posts
 

@mmcgill829 

 

what phono did you land on? Hopefully not the Konus...I've had the Vinyle and the Digitale. The Vinyle threw a major unsolvable buzz into my system and the Digitale was harsh sounding. I'd pass on those and focus on the Modwright. 

mmcgill829's avatar
mmcgill829 OP
155 posts
 

@jc51373 Hi there. I posted back in sept 2023 that I had landed on the Modwright. I still have it and have since upgraded the power supply to bring the whole unit to the 9.0XT. I also picked up the upgraded umbilical cable from them and replaced the tubes. (specifics are in my virtual system notes).

It really is an astoundingly good phono pre-amp. I have zero desire to upgrade any further at this time. It's especially nice that one could just buy the base model if they can't quite swing the fully upgraded one price-wise, and then can send it back to Modwright for the upgrades down the line, if they'd like. Turn around is quite fast (it was just a couple weeks from when it left my home to when it returned).

jc51373
540 posts
 

@mmcgill829 

 

nice congrats, I hear that is a great phono stage! 

More to discover