Checking in after taping first show with the WMOD 661, Friday 4-3, The Bridge in Richmond. Went XLR line in with AKG 461s running into a pair of SD MP-1 mono preamps. The recording sounds great, and the deck was very easy to work with during the show.
When are you going to try out the W-mod? I haven't heard any feedback on one yet.
Each of the 3 types of modifications Doug Oade does on the 661 upgrades the entire XLR analog input path, which covers both mic and line inputs. Only the 1/8" line 2 input is not modded. I did some home tests when I got the unit by recording studio CDs on my home system cranked to near concert levels. Sonically, I could hear little or no difference between the two methods and the values on the EQ graphs for each frequency were within +/-1 db of each other between the two methods, confirming the warm mod is always in play. However, I noticed that running the outboard preamps, I had significantly more headroom remaining, and about half the battery drain.
Since running the unit with mics directly in really calls for adding outboard power supply, I figure carrying the extra boxes for the preamps and not needing external power on the 661, as wells as getting more headroom overall is enough of a benefit to keep using the preamps in front. But, if I was in a pinch and had to run mic in, I also know it sounds fine that way too.
Besides matching best with AKGs, one of the other reasons I chose the warm mod was that Doug said it would be better for SBD feeds than the concert mod, since SBD sources can often be dry and too bright, lacking body in the mid range.
I would say based on my short time with this unit, and listening to sources using the concert mod, that Doug's original comparison in sound with the warm mod sounding like the M148 preamp, and the concert mod sounding like the M248 is a valid one.