Where to Purchase New Tubes for Audio Research Preamp?


Hi all,

The tubes in my SP8 mk II were purchased eight years ago from Audio Research and are getting long in the tooth. I called ARC recently to order a new set and was told that the cost would be $500. This is almost twice what I paid in 2011. Anyway, I was wondering if there are other sources for tubes you would recommend that are cheaper? I found a store on ebay called Tubemeister which sells Genalex Gold Lion gold pin 12AX7/ECC83GP preamp tubes that it claims to be matched and balanced. Do you think this would this be a good option?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AUDIO-RESEARCH-SP-8-MK-2-ULTIMO-II-Tube-Set-Genalex-Gold-Pin-Our-Best-Set/2...
distortions
Brent Jessee audiotubes or Tubeworld. or Vintage Tube Services; any of those have the best selection and none of them except Brent Jessee sell any of the junk made in Russia or China
I'd call Upscale Audio also. I have successfully used VivaTubes, an Ebay vendor from Massachusetts.
Andy at Vintage tube for non Russian, RAM Tubes for the others...

both of them have the best test gear on the planet and know how to run it.....
Stupid question. I have an AR LS-16. I'm sure it has the original tubes in it. What will I hear that suggests there is a problem with them? They look fine as do all the caps.