EAR Yoshino 88PB
The EAR Yoshino 88PB brings vinyl alive with exceptional detail, crystalline cleanliness and a wonderfully airy soundstage. AVComfort found its realism and resolution genuinely standout, while four PCC88 valves, MM/MC switching and onboard gain control make this a polished, deeply revealing hub for a serious analogue system.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Cartridge Compatibility
86/100
Build Quality
84/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Exceptionally clean, airy and highly detailed vinyl presentation with convincing realism.
Supports both MM and MC cartridges, with selectable operation and onboard volume/gain control.
Elegant polished finish and visible valve glow create a notably attractive design.
Cons
The review offers little direct evidence about macrodynamic slam, transient attack or rhythmic drive.
Loading adjustments are not documented, which may limit fine-tuning certainty for cartridge enthusiasts.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The available review is emphatically positive about the 88PB's resolving, clean and airy presentation, highlighting an unusually realistic sense of recorded detail. Its strongest documented qualities are clarity, openness and tonal realism; there is less direct commentary on macrodynamic impact.
Transparency Noise Floor
91/100
AVComfort describes vinyl playback as exceptionally clean, airy and highly detailed, calling the unit's retrieval of detail extraordinary. The review does not specifically report hum or hiss testing, but its emphasis on purity and openness supports a very transparent presentation.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
The reviewer repeatedly praises the 88PB's realism, describing its detail and presentation as remarkable even in standard form. It is presented as more than merely analytical, with a convincing and lifelike musical centre.
Dynamics
75/100
The review conveys strong musical excitement and calls the performance impressive overall. However, it offers little direct description of transient attack, punch, rhythmic drive or large-scale dynamic swings.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
Air is one of the reviewer's most repeated compliments, with the 88PB said to provide more openness and detail than the alternatives discussed. That language suggests generous spatial breathing room, although image placement and stage depth are not examined in detail.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Cartridge Compatibility
86/100
The 88PB supports both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges, with a front-panel selection control, and includes a volume/gain control. This gives it useful scope for a mixed MM/MC collection, though the supplied material does not detail resistance or capacitance loading options.
Build Quality
84/100
AVComfort finds the unit notably attractive, calling out the highly polished finish and visible glow of the valves. The review says little about internal layout, shielding, component quality or long-term durability.
Value for Money
85/100
At approximately $4,899 to $6,295, the 88PB sits in a premium phono-stage segment. The review is highly enthusiastic about its sound, but does not directly compare its asking price with competing phono stages or make a specific value claim.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Specification
- Four PCC88 Valves
- Specification
- Moving Magnet/Moving Coil
- Specification
- Volume/Gain control
- Specification
- Chrome Facia with gold or chrome knobs
Manufacturer's Description — EAR Yoshino
Full featured dedicated phonostage with two inputs catering for the vinyl enthusiast with multiple turntables or arms. With both Moving coil and moving magnet capability as standard, its designed to handle a wide range of cartridges.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for EAR Yoshino 88PB
- Acoustic Dimension — in-store — Steenderen, Gelderland, Netherlands (website)
- Alternative Audio — in-store — Taunton, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Assai Audio — in-store — Centro, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Aktoren — online and in-store — Horten, Vestfold, Norway (website)
- Audio Emotion — online and in-store — Glenrothes, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Gallery — online and in-store — Las Rozas de Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Hum — in-store — Norte Sierra, Andalucía, Spain (website)
- Audiocompagniet — online and in-store — Odense C, Denmark (website)
- Audiophile Zone — online and in-store — Baywood-Los Osos, California, United States (website)
and 35 more verified dealers