CONRAD JOHNSON MV50 Owners, anyone outthere?

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.

Alan,

I had my MV45 since the mid '80s, driving a pair of Quads 57 with a PV6 as the line stage. I totally agree with you regarding its good sound. I guess it has something to do with the EL34's. Last year, I bought a pair of Quad 988s and felt the MV45 a little underpowered. So against all advices, I bought a Premier 140. My friends predicted that I would have to re-mylar my speakers in no time. But as it turned out, the 140 is quite a good match given the inefficiency of the Quads. The 140 is not as warm and sweet as the MV45, but just by a tiny bit. Its probably due to the 6550 output tubes it uses, its more open, dynamic and authorative. Overall, I think it sound much better than the MV45 and I highly recommend to look into the Premier 140.