VTL Service ??

I own both a VTL amp & pre-amp. I've never had to have them serviced, but have called VTL many times with questions & they've always been EXTREMELY helpful & cordial. Are you considering buying a brand new one? If so you'll get 5 years of warranty, longer than a lot of warranties on tube equipment. Plus, I think newer VTL stuff is very reliable (knock wood!).

This is a very sobering thread! I was just considering buying used MB-450 monoblocs (again) when I found this topic.

My experience with VTL is a bit mixed: I own a TL 2.5 pre-amp that I bought used a couple of years ago, & absolutely love. No problems, knock on wood.

I also owned a (used) early model ST-85 power amp for a couple of years. It was a bit noisy, & had some old weird funky connectors, but still, had it's charms. It finally blew a fuse which I couldn't get locally because it was an odd one. VTL (Bea), sent me new fuses before I paid for them, relying on me to send them a check later, & gave me plenty of advice over the phone.

Bea, (Luke's wife I believe), has been extremely helpful by phone & e-mail. However, they have chastised me occasionally for not buying their gear new. The thought of shipping VTL mono-blocs to California really puts me off.......I have just read too many accounts of either their outright failure, or some "funky", intermittant, quirks. Maybe if I lived in California. The pre-amps are great however, IMHO, & easy to ship if need be. Just my 2 cents.

Well, I have an earlier post on this thread regarding my experiences with VTL, which have been at least 90% positive, so I won't repeat that here. I'd just like to say, they are apparently a 2-person company. And I got a very positive & fast response to every one of my issues or questions every time I called them, even tho I'd bought both of my VTL components used. They did often point out however, that I'd get better service, etc. if I'd bought them brand new from a dealer. I guess you can't blame them for that.

Hey--if you buy used audio gear that's not under warranty any more, you're taking your chances. VTL is a "boutique brand", I think it's fair to say, so maybe you have to weigh the trade offs--you can buy a Camry, or a Ferrari, or a vintage BMW, what do you want?

Recently I called Krell, because I was thinking of buying a used FBP amp, & asked to know the history of that particular amp. The guy at Krell I spoke to, absolutely refused to give me any info, & was very rude & abrupt about it. I've never gotten that treatment at VTL, or any other tube mfg.

With any high-end purchase, esp. used, you've gotta ask yourself, where & how can you get service if you need it. If I lived on the West Coast, I'd be way into VTL......as it is, I still happily own a VTL pre-amp......

cheers!