$510.00 for an Aluminum cover for the ARC Ref. 10?

First I believe the Ref 10 has 2 tops not 1.

The Tops should be covered by warranty if the unit is less than 3 years old.

If it is over 3 years old then call the ARC service department and complain. It is a design flaw and ARC knows it. They will likely give you a discount on the metal tops.

Like Mitcht said" spend 30k on a pre-amp and they ding you 500.00 for a cover" spend 10 times that on a Ferrari and pay 3500.00 for a carbon fiber coffee cup. The bottom line is they are laughing all the way to the bank.

I am more intrigued by the figure itself. Why $510 and not something else?
Yeah, I think they are laughing to the bank. I am unfamiliar with them but dislike them already. $510 for this is BS unless this includes a dealer coming over to install it. Then it might be OK.

how is this different than any other "audiophile" product. i mean pro-ject sells a bubble level for $30.

I believe ARC recently become another rip-off industry.