Retrotronics (also, retro-tronics) is the making of electric circuits or appliances using older electric components, such as vacuum tubes, Nixie displays, relays, uniselectors, analogue meters, etc. These are usually chosen for their aesthetic qualities, more than performance. Retrotronics is a popular strand within the steampunk movement.

At the Oxford exhibiition of Steampunk art, a third of the works on show had a strong retrotronic influence, from light fittings of period components through to computer keyboards and webcams of burnished copper and brass. Outside steampunk, similar influences are found amongst the retro-futurist scene. A recent musical trend has sought to recapture early 1980s 8-bit game and synthesiser sounds.

Artists such as Kid Carpet perform entire sets on children's toys or pocket synths of the period. DJs offer dance music events built from samples of period games or gadgets. Some audiophiles and electric guitarists also favour the use of valve (vacuum tube) amplifiers, on the ground of sound quality or particular "colour".

This is still within the scope of retrotronics, but is on a functional ground, rather than aesthetic. Designs of the 1960s are highly sought after today, and still support a market in manufacturing new valves and replacing time-expired components such as electrolytic capacitors. In the audiophile world, such popularity is justified on the basis of sound quality, the earlier valve amplifier designs were free of such artifacts as crossover distortion that beset the early bipolar transistor designs of the 1960s.

Despite more recent designs that have removed these problems, the "valve sound" is still preferred by some, who will pay large amounts to achieve it. It's also notable that almost all recent audiophile valve amplifiers make a deliberate display of their valves and place them visibly on show.

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