Also the tubing. One loaded with good Teles and Mullards should command more coin. Otherwise, the buyer is left looking for great sounding 7247s, which is not always easy. My CX2 probably has tubes worth $4-500 at street value in it, even though I probably picked them up over the years for nearly nothing. Some sellers strip ‘em of those bottles and sell them with JJs and other cheapies.
That these are now selling for $5,000 is pretty shocking. Most look pretty rough. But once the asian audiophiles take a liking to something, watch out. And that’s what happened with the CX2 a few years back.
It IS a mighty gorgeous sweet-sounding unit, when in full tune with the right tubes in it and the right associated gear around it. Among the very best, imo.
I am listening to 24-bits Christmas Sinatra though mine at this very moment.