Ads skipped

Tube Electronics--1988 vs. 2026--and the winner is?

67K views · Apr 28, 2026 · Science & Technology

Comments · 281

  • @teck13 · 5 months ago · pinned

    Makes me wish, more than ever, I never sold my CJ PV10 that I very likely purchased from you at Sound by Singer.  Yep, about a $1,000 back in the 1990’s.

    2

  • @EduardoGorab · 1 month ago

    Dear Steve, excellent tribute to CJ and AR as well, two real exponents of tube audio. Thank you!

    1

  • @redstarwraith · 5 months ago

    I was wondering for YEARS   when you were going to review some Conrad-Johnson gear!

    18

  • @leeloopatsy · 5 months ago

    The big difference between ultra high end hi-fi in the 80s and today is the price. It used to be around the price of a small car but  today it’s the price of a house.

    20

  • @haggismacallan9722 · 5 months ago

    Just got my PV2a back from Jeff after it had sat idle, like the rest of my 80’s gear, for 30 years. He said “see you in ten years”.  I find I’m appreciating my “old” system so much more now that I’m older than I did when it was new. And the PV-2 is the absolute heart of that system. Thanks Steve, for putting into words how I feel.

    5

  • @lokerola · 5 months ago

    Would love to hear a vintage CJ PV8 sometime. Thanks for all you do Steve - I watch all your vids!

    10

  • @jondu-sud274 · 5 months ago

    Your enthusiasm jumps right out of the screen 🎉

    11

  • @diment0857 · 5 months ago

    This struck home as I've used a variety of CJ equipment over the years - including their first preamp that put CJ on the map later named the PV1 ! - and my impressions are exactly like yours, listening to CJ is like taking an ultra relaxing warm bath complete with candles and luscious scents , who needs razor-sharp detail when you're in this state of nirvana?

    16

  • @raykuiper4979 · 5 months ago

    Do own the PV7,this piece will never leave me

    6

  • @billirby2541 · 1 month ago

    Steve, been with you forever and this was one of your coolest shows! I should have got a PV8 when I could! Take care.

  • @carlosbauza1139 · 5 months ago

    It is great to reminisce about the performance of those tube units. I owned Dynaco Pas-3with ST-70, And my uncle had McIntosh and Marantz tubed gear (with AR/Janz/zen speakers)! Great times!

    2

  • @GiguereSylvain · 4 months ago

    I got my Counterpoint SA-1 refurbished like-new and would never replace it by ""modern" over priced gear.. I equally owned a CJ preamp that I equally loved... and a Marantz 7C (still biting my fingers for having sold it though.. )  not "all" but lots of vintage gear is really great and musical, when in great shape or updated.. Hi from Québec SylvainQc

    2

Up next

LIVE

Steve and Herb's favorite sounding systems

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 125K views

LIVE

Bottlehead Moreplay Preamp Kit, Tube Sound Done Right!

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 65K views

LIVE

Even Smart AUDIOPHILES make DUMB Choices

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 73K views

LIVE

RCA Made a Vacuum Tube to Beat the Transistor

Asianometry · 238K views

LIVE

What Happened to Quadraphonic Sound? The 4-Speaker Format That Collapsed in Two Years

The Last Track · 129 views

LIVE

26 Years in Hi Fi, and These Two REALLY Surprised Me!

Elite Audio · 60K views

LIVE

Zu Method Sub will make you a believer

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 22K views

LIVE

What Kind Of High-End System Does A ROCK STAR Buy? PART TWO

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 87K views

LIVE

I Tested a Cheap McIntosh Clone and Here's What Happened

Erin's Audio Corner · 70K views

LIVE

Bernie Grundman and Chad Kassem Discuss the Steely Dan Reissues

acousticsoundsks · 51K views

LIVE

Conrad-Johnson Vacuum-Tubes Premier 9,10 & 11A : THE EMPIRICAL AUDIOPHILE

THE EMPIRICAL AUDIOPHILE · 21K views

LIVE

The Technology We Killed in the 1960s Is Now Worth $3.3 Billion

The History Archive · 780K views

LIVE

Audio Research 330M Monoblocks Reviewed

Audio Excellence Canada · 12K views

LIVE

Digital to Digital Converter Reality Check | When It's a Game-Changer vs. Pointless

Analogholic · 15K views

LIVE

AUDIOPHILIAC Viewers Have The BEST Systems!

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 173K views

LIVE

MADE-in-GERMANY SPL AUDIO Wows the AUDIOPHILIAC

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 84K views

LIVE

Changing and Biasing Power Tubes in a Conrad Johnson Premier 11a Amp

Mike Thomas · 17K views

LIVE

AUDIOPHILE UPGRADES and DOWNGRADES and so much MORE!!

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 63K views

LIVE

Vintage Receiver Comparison - Luxman vs Pioneer vs Sony

TriAudio · 8.6K views

LIVE

Back to the Future: MARANTZ 7C

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 27K views

LIVE

Conrad-Johnson Premier 10 Vacuum Tube Preamp VINTAGE AT ITS BEST! MODS & MORE!

Hi-Fi Conspiracy | Alexander Stuehr · 25K views

LIVE

How to choose the right power amplifier

Paul McGowan, PS Audio · 53K views

LIVE

GOBSMACKED By AUDIOPHILIAC Viewer Systems!! + A Surprise!

Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac · 56K views

LIVE

Vintage Sansui AU 9900 Integrated Amplifier Repair & Restoration Using Artificial Intelligence AI.

Vintage Audio Addict · 73K views

LIVE

DarTZeel NHB-108 Clone Review! High-End Amplifier with Outstanding Price-Performance Ratio

Christian Schwarzbeck - China-HiFi · 82K views

LIVE

Marantz CD63 KI David Price: The Curious Case of Ken Ishiwata's Copper Compact Disc Player

Hi-Fi Riff · 19K views

YouTube, with the door locked.

Aegis plays a clean stream instead of YouTube's player, so pre-roll ads, trackers, and fingerprinting never ride along. Drop Shields any time if you want the official player back.