Buy tubes from Audio Research or not

Audio Research certainly isn't making a killing selling tubes. It's simply a service the company provides because it sells tube products. If you've invested in ARC equipment, I would think you would want it to perform at its best, and you can be assured of that if you buy tubes that ARC has tested.

I found Upscale Audio to be rude, too, and this was after I had bought a set of power tubes for my ARC VT100MKIII a few years ago. Maybe Kevin or whoever I spoke to was just having a bad day, but there are several better options if you don't want to buy from ARC. Or go ahead and roll the dice.

I would avoid Upscaleaudio..... period. Go through ARC. I tried to upgrade tubes in my VAC integrated amp, and Upscaleaudio basically told me to take a hike, Kevin said he would not sell me his precious tubes.....they were too good for my VAC. There are enough reputable tube sellers out there that I do not feel I have to kneel at the altar of Upscaleaudio just to buy some tubes.....life's too short to deal with dweebs.

Cheers,
John

I would by from ARC if I could handle the cost for a lot of reason already mentioned. Now, of Roger Modjeski at RAM Labs has the specs on the ARC gear I would also trust him to provide extremely well matched tubes. I would ask him, he should be a bit less expensive than buying direct from ARC - he is a master of tube matching and testing and very honest as most anyone who has dealt with him will attest.

I think people should stop piling on Kevin. I have always found him to be helpful and honest. His knowledge of tubes is way beyond most of the jokers on this forum. What is amazing is that after reading the posts in this thread,I still have not learned why this amp is so difficult to retube!

Just want to second Pubul57's recommendation of Roger Modjeski of RAM Labs -- I've been a customer of Roger's for 20 years and have never had a problem. (Kevin Deal's ads speak volumes about the proprietor.)