Audio Research Dim Read-out on the CD-3 display............

Funny this...

ARC wants 50 bucks for a new display. The guy on EBAY wants 70 for a used display that is sold as is for repair. And some VFDs just go dim on all kinds of equipment. So if its as old as the one you have now...

ARC repairs are expensive, always were, but they do a pretty good job. Still, I totally hated forking over the money so I get it. $300 seems kind of steep but $50 for the part seems pretty reasonable. You should see their tube prices. If you can find an authorized shop that would swap it for a reasonable labor cost I'd go for it.

If there's no guaranty on the display I think I'd pass. 70 bucks and it doesn't work you're still in the same boat and 70 bucks poorer. Might be a false economy there. 

Some of the part limitations might have something to do with the sale of the company but it may also have something to do with their long term support of the product. The CD-3 has been out of production for a decade. Unless those displays fit something newer its kind of fortunate that you can get one new period. Not all companies could do that. I think usually after a few years they trash can or sell off the spares.