Recommendations for reliable service of Audio Research or tube gear near Wisconsin?

Ultra Fidelis in Wauwatosa is a Dealer for ARC as well.

The Ref 3 should be fine for many, many more years to come. I wouldn’t worry about it especially since you’re not too far from them if you wanted to make the trip and shipping probably not too bad. Not to discredit a quality tech, but a preamp to that caliber I would send it back to ARC regardless and not take a chance on it. Have the tubes checked if you can, and when the time comes, spend the little extra and buy new tubes from ARC or make sure it’s a trusted seller if you go elsewhere. 

I can tell you to stay away from a well know shop in Waukesha. They will strip parts from it use a can of compressed air and charge you $500.

https://soundsclassic.com

  Small, mom & pop place, 
tell them what you want, and it’s done.    It’s small, congested, seems like a dirty little hole in the wall.
    They do great honest work.
they h ave done my amplifier, and my neighbors old Sansui, which he thought was toast.


 

The Ref 3 should be fine for many, many more years to come. I wouldn’t worry about it especially since you’re not too far from them if you wanted to make the trip and shipping probably not too bad. Not to discredit a quality tech, but a preamp to that caliber I would send it back to ARC regardless and not take a chance on it. Have the tubes checked if you can, and when the time comes, spend the little extra and buy new tubes from ARC or make sure it’s a trusted seller if you go elsewhere.

i agree w adg101 100% - a ref3 should go back to arc to work on

op you are in wisconsin, not santiago chile