CONRAD JOHNSON MV50 Owners, anyone outthere?

Hi there,
I used to have a CJ MV45. I figured that a tube amp with my vintage electrostatic loudspeakers was the way to go. Ultimately I had a bad experience with my CJ equipment (both pre amp and power amp). They were very unreliable and poor quality. To make matters worse, I received rather poor support from CJ. The transformers in the MV45 buzzed significantly, and the capacitors failed (CJ initally claimed they were OK). I had to send the transformers to the manufacturer to have them reimpregnated (again no help from CJ). When I took it apart, I noted that the single-sided, hand laid PCB had an intential gouge throug a trace which I concluded was there to break a ground loop in the layout. I was happy to sell these units (nearly gave away the MV45 due to the cap replacement cost).
Ultimately I concluded that tube amps are unreliable (esp CJ) and have significantly more distortion than properly designed transistor amps.

I also had an MV45 about 20 years ago. Along with a PV5 purchased a year earlier, these comprised my first all tube system. Had to send the pre-amp back for repairs twice and the amp once. I then decided to go with transistors in about 1990 but lost interest in music listening. Had to go back to tubes to find myself planted in the sweet spot for any length of time. I found CJ very helpful during all three repair shippings and they even twice sent back new phono tubes with the pre.

However, I think my mid 80s experience with CJ stuff was rather typical. I also bought a PV3(4?) in 1983 which had a resistor go bad (how does that happen??) and CJ fixed it. All four times repairs were done I paid shipping to them and CJ paid for return shipping. No complaints with their customer service then. I'm sure, however, their stuff from the last 10 years is very reliable. Have heard nothing about problems.

By the way, I haven't had a tube amp/pre-amp problem with anything since going back to tubes 15 years ago. Longest time with one piece was an Air Tight amp owned for over four and one half years, it performed flawlessly and made great music.

So, it seems that Im one of the few that still use this vintage gear in his main set up...
I really loved the way the mV50 sounds in my system, the round and sweet type of sound it provides. But I think there has to be outthere another more recent gear that has that same type of sound,,,Do you know if the Premier 11 has that same type of sound?
Thanks

Alan, I was trying to improve its sound for you. I do not own one. I now see you'll be replacing it so improving it is a mute point.

But I have to ask...if you love its sound so much, why replace it? Does it have enough power? If you replace it, maybe the current MV60 would be a good bet for you. It has a little (1.1dB) more power, lots better/bigger output transformers(same as in the Premier Eleven-A as I understand it), and it's LOTS better looking. Can operate in triode, too.

Your love of the basic sound of your '50 may be the result of its use of EL34 output tubes, so if you replace it, I sugggest another EL34-based amp. If you want significantly more power, that would mean at least 2 pairs of '34s per channel.
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I have heard the Premier 11 in a store a couple of times and it is quite a bit more open and dynamic than the MV45 was at my house.