Audio Research Vs115

ARC tests their tubes at hard labor for 24 hrs. prior to putting them in your amp at the factory. No other tube reseller does this. Tubes are not perfect and they do fail. They warranty the tubes for 90 days and any damage it caused would be covered under warranty. The resistors are doing their job when they shatter. They are flameproof resistors. This is normal.

There are no reliability issues with that amp that I am aware of.

ARC recommends using their parts especially when it comes to the resistors around the output tube circuit because they are flameproof wirewound resistors. These parts are used to minimize circuit board damage when an output tube arcs. Instead of using a plain wirewound resistor where the resistor might heat up and scorch the board, a flameproof resistor basically pops and opens thereby minimizing damage.