Which would be preferable, an older Audio Research Corp. VT130 or a newer SS Rotel 1552?

+1 freediver

Always remember in audio everything is a trade off.

Things to consider with the ARC VT130.

Made in 1995. Has it ever been recapped?

The amp requires tube biasing adjustments. (Power tubes as well as, I believe, the small signal tubes.) Do you have any experience biasing an early Audio Research VT series power Amp? I believe, the VT130 requires the small signal tubes must be biased. I have a pair of ARC VT50 amps. Biasing the signal tubes can be a real pain in the ***, is an under statement.

I would find out for sure if the signal tubes require biasing when installing new signal tubes. Especially the driver tubes.

Page 5

https://www.arcdb.ws/Database/VT130/ARC_VT130_manual.pdf  

https://www.arcdb.ws/Database/VT130/ARC_VT130_bias_adjustment.pdf

https://www.arcdb.ws/model/VT130

Edit: I could be wrong in saying the small signal tubes require biasing.

A quick look at the schematic I didn't see any adjustment pots.

https://www.arcdb.ws/model/VT130

Easily the ARC but with upgraded parts.

Happy Listening.

Listen to @ghdprentice. The man knows his Audio Research.

You're getting a lot of B&W hate in the replies. They aren't the speakers I would buy, but they aren't crap and they are perfectly capable of being engaging and musical.

I can't imagine upgrading beyond the 800 series B&W speakers and expecting to get high-end performance from your Rotel amp. With the VT130, you will find that the 6550s, if sources from ARC, last a long time. I drove the crap out of my Classic 60 for three years (also 8 output tubes), and when I tested the tubes, the drivers needed to be replaced but the output tubes still measured at or above 100% of new specs. All 8 of them 

The VT130 uses 6922s for input tubes, which is not a great tube design and they do not last long, but they are small, inexpensive, and readily available. Keep extras on hand, and when your amp starts sounding more like the Rotel, put new 6922s in there, and you will be happy. Send the 6550s and driver tubes to Western Glow every two years for testing. You'll never look back.