Where to Purchase New Tubes for Audio Research Preamp?

https://www.upscaleaudio.com/collections/vacuum-tubes

Call Kevin.

Contact Jim McShane

http://www.mcshanedesign.net./

Another shout for Kevin -- he is expert in matching to ARC gear and his prices seem better than the vendor you linked to

Check out Tube Depot!
https://www.tubedepot.com/t/tubes/preamp-tubes/12ax7-ecc83-7025-cv4004

Brent Jessee audiotubes or Tubeworld. or Vintage Tube Services; any of those have the best selection and none of them except Brent Jessee sell any of the junk made in Russia or China

I'd call Upscale Audio also. I have successfully used VivaTubes, an Ebay vendor from Massachusetts.

Andy at Vintage tube for non Russian, RAM Tubes for the others...

both of them have the best test gear on the planet and know how to run it.....

Stupid question. I have an AR LS-16. I'm sure it has the original tubes in it. What will I hear that suggests there is a problem with them? They look fine as do all the caps.

n80 I’ve had great luck with Cryoset. Original LS16 I believe are 6922 where the MK II went to 6H30. If you’re tubes are original you probably are ready. Unless you’re looking for the best NOS just spend the money and get a new set as they’re not too spendy. Cryo EH 6922 gold pin matched pairs. I think you need two sets. Let them know and they will do a quad match set for you as well.

On a preamp you can get a lot more hours out of your tubes compared to a power amp. You can probably push it out to 4,000 hours but if you don’t have a tester I don’t think I’d chance it.

http://www.cryoset.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=327

ADG:

I heard that Ron Sheldon (Cryoset) passed away and that the business closed.

DeKay