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Digital Drive: REVIEW: ModWright ModWight Sony 999ES SACD Player (Modded) by jonbee

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REVIEW: ModWright ModWight Sony 999ES SACD Player (Modded)

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Model: ModWight Sony 999ES
Category: SACD Player (Modded)
Suggested Retail Price: $2100
Description: Sony 999ES SACD/DVD/CDP w/ tube output stage
Manufacturer URL: ModWright
Model Picture: View

Review by jonbee ( A ) on October 11, 2005 at 16:36:38
IP Address: 65.219.140.66
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for the ModWight Sony 999ES


A couple of years ago I purchased a used Modwright Sig. Truth Modded Sony 999. I wrote a review here. In short, I felt the Modwright player transformed digital playback for me. Other "affordable" players (for me- under $3k) just seemed to be working around limitations which I thought were inherent to the media. The modwright player was the only one I owned that just blasted through the 2-d sterility into a warm, luscious 3-d recreation of the music. For me, with this player digital no longer had to take a back seat to analog for ease and natural beauty, while retaining the detail and accuracy.
My only minor misgiving was that I thought there might yet be another layer of very fine detail and ambience that was being obscured, but I didn't miss it, as the whole was just so right sounding.

The player developed a couple of annoying problems: one channel would drop out from time to time, and lately the player would sometimes shut down on its own.
Bob Levi at www.positive-feedback.com had written a positively ecstatic review, and lately wrote an updated review based on new technology that Dan Wright was offering. See:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/modwright999ES.htm
I decided to give the player back to Dan for repairs (which he performed free of charge- even though I had bought the player from a 3rd party!) and an upgrade.
Dan replaced the PS with the PS 9.0 that he developed for his linestage. This PS makes that found in a lot of 60 WPC stereo power amps blush (I would guess it weighs around 15 lbs., and is fully choke regulated), but its use in a player at this price is unprecedented, I think.
Dan also replaced the clock w/ a LC Audio XO3 master clock, and included a Revelation Audio Cryo-silver power supply umbilical.

The player already had an input Bybee filter. This config was pretty much what Bob Levi had written up. The cost of these changes was a not inconsiderable $950.

I got the player back and it didn't take long to hear the improvement. The overall character didn't change, but that extra layer of detail I speculated was there all along now was plainly evident. Blackness between instruments was heightened, and the soundstage dimensionality and dynamic contrasts was enhanced, from top to bottom. Treble detail in particular was better differentiated, which had the effect of making it sound a bit smoother on top.
The question is- was it worth it? In my case, my budget allows for this kind of expense, and since I believe this player is as close to a permanent resident as I can imagine in my system, I feel I will get a lot of years usage out of it. Over 10 or more years, I think it works.
If I was in the market for a player at $2000 and up, this would certainly be my choice, hands down. If I had an older Modwright player it is a closer call, but since Dan repaired it for me for free I felt good about spending the funds to take it up a notch. YMMV.
This player simply lets the beauty and the power of the music through. It's what high end sound is about, IMO.
Thanks, Dan!


Product Weakness: Multi-channel function disabled in my unit(I only use 2 ch), 2 boxes to find space for; desire to spend more time just listening.
Product Strengths: Smooth, liquid, airy, spacious, awesome bass and dynamics. Redefines digital sound, as far as I'm concerned. Desire to spend more time just listening.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: PS Audio HCA2 w/ Blackgates & Bybees on inputs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): PS Audio PCA2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): review
Speakers: Thiel 3.6s w/ bybees on drivers
Cables/Interconnects: Goertz TQ (silver); .99999 braided silver/teflon (speakers)
Music Used (Genre/Selections): lots
Room Size (LxWxH): 19 x 16 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition: up to 2 yrs
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Monster 2000
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: ModWright ModWight Sony 999ES SACD Player (Modded) - jonbee 16:36:38 10/11/05 ( 4)