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Audio Research VT100 tube replacement

Hi everyone, I am new to tube amps and I need to re-tube this amp. I have discovered that some music lovers prefer the sound of NOS tubes over the ones Audio Research sells. I will have my Audio Research dealer bias the amp when I purchase the new tubes. My question is what tubes would some of you with more experience suggest. My musical tastes include pop, rock, dance and some classical. I do enjoy listening at moderate to higher volumes most of the time (don't know if that helps in choosing tubes). My preference would be for smooth sounding highs and mids with punchy bass, my ears are sensitive to higher frequencies and I find that I get listener fatigue very easily from a lot of different solid state and certain metal dome tweeters. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, also any tube retailers that you have had good experience with would be great. Thanks to all and happy holidays
siffled
dbarger
215 posts
 
I bought a set of 6550's from a well known online seller for an ARC VT 100 mk2, and upon firing up the amp, blew a tube, which took out a resistor. So I had to send the amp to ARC for repair, and I bought tubes from them after all. So I wished I had just bought from them in the first place. If you buy from them, they are guaranteed not to fry your amp. So my advice, just buy from them, which means spending a little more, and getting well tested tubes.
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
In another thread I commented that when I service an ARC product I get my tubes from ARC. It saves a lot of grief. It's also a good insurance policy because if an ARC tube goes out and causes damage, ARC will cover the repair costs within the first 90 days. If I do the repair I get reimbursed by ARC and the customer pays nothing because it's under warranty. Just so you know Winged C 6550's are no longer available. I believe ARC is now using the KT-120 for that amp or the 6550WE. I recommend the KT-120's.
siffled OP
1 posts
 
Thanks to all of you for your advice, and happy holidays to all of you. As for my amp it is a mk 2 and is not under warranty. Based on all the responses I will have ARC replace the tubes. I also found out from my ARC dealer that they warranty their tubes for 90 days and it is not uncommon for them to cover their tubes for longer. Also should a tube installed by ARC damage anything else in the amp, then ARC covers it if the cause was from the tubes. So for piece of mind as stated above I am going to go with ARC. Again thanks to all for your advice and happy holidays to all.
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
Siffled, isn't there an ARC warranty repair place in your city? Or are you in MN?
ssurbaugh's avatar
ssurbaugh
16 posts
 
"Winged Cs not available anymore?
Right here: http://www.upscaleaudio.com/products/SED-%22Winged-C%22-6550C.html

And many other Tube retailers. ARC is currently putting these in there AMPs. Btw..its $1K for a full set of output/input tubes from ARC. About $600 if you buy elsewhere. I'm currently looking to re tube my VT100 MKI as well. Not sure what I'm going to do.....The Electro Harmonix looks interested a almost 1/2 the price of the winged C...
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