If you’re a little handy with a soldering iron take your time and do the repair yourself... it’s really not that difficult. Does the unit play at all or completely dead? Guessing the electrolytics on the power supply is what needs replaced. Get your hands on a schematic if you don’t already have one - they’re out there. Next find someone near you with a tube tester and check your tubes. ARC sales great tubes but you’re going to pay for them. Plenty of places to buy tubes. If you have never touched a soldering iron find a tech locally; where I live I know of several people that can easily work on a SP3. If you liked the way it sounds then why bother updating it, just fix the PS board which is likely only a few caps. I’ve had great luck with cryoset.com for tubes. Parts Connexion, Percy, Mouser, and Digikey for caps and etc. if it doesn’t play at all it could be more. Any burnt circuit board traces? I’d just get the basic stuff done, new tubes if needed and leave it as a SP3 A1 and not spend the money to upgrade it. It’s never going to compete with newer $3K preamps so don’t invest that kind of money on it and besides it sounds like you like how it sounds which is all that really matters.
Been years since I’ve heard a SP3, but from what I recall I’d take a Modwright SWL 9.0 over it. You can pick one of those up used for a lot less. Has a little of the magic of the older ARC but better IMO. I’ve owed one and very much enjoyed it.
Good luck
Been years since I’ve heard a SP3, but from what I recall I’d take a Modwright SWL 9.0 over it. You can pick one of those up used for a lot less. Has a little of the magic of the older ARC but better IMO. I’ve owed one and very much enjoyed it.
Good luck