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Audio Research VSi60 integrated reliability?

Just wondering the reliability of the VSi60 integrated. Am tempted by the idea of a tube integrated, but a little wary with the stereophile review and comment about exploding units. Saw a previous a'gon posting with quite a few replies about another similar situation which seems to have been deleted. Anyways I hear quite a lot of positive remarks about ARC's reputation and reliability, but those posts frankly are ridiculous if the amp is exploding.
dchang81
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
ARC amps do not explode. Occasionally, if an output tube arcs, a resistor might blow which is what it is supposed to do.
don_c55
823 posts
 
I owned an ARC D125 that I bought used in the 90's that had an output tube internally short and the amp burst into flames rising up 6 inches above the amp which was destroyed. The dealer said he had 6 other customers with the same amp that used Chinese 6550's that also went down in flames. The driver and bias PC board was destroyed.
dchang81 OP
7 posts
 
That's what I hear, postings that, no basically that's normal and part of the nature in owning tubes, and others that have experienced these issues themselves. Biasing an amp isn't much of an issue, just the thought of having to keep replacing resistors just to keep an amp running seems a bit much.
bifwynne
2,069 posts
 
I admit to having an ARC bias (pun-LOL), but here is my experience. I've owned 2 ARC tube amps: the VS-110 and currently, the VS-115. Yes, it's true, on rare occassion (maybe twice), a power output tube arc'ed and took out a bias resister.

I'm fortunate to have an authorized ARC tech. service rep. who's shop is near my house and who also makes house calls. When my VS-115 blew a power tube and took out a bias resister, the tech came to my house and replaced the resister in 45 minutes. The repair was fully covered by the ARC warranty.

Look, tube amps on occassion blow power tubes and in some cases take out bias resisters. It goes with the territory. But I have never experienced an exploding amp problem. I may have read of one case on the Forum where an arc'ing tube did a lot of damage to an ARC amp, but not an explosion.

FWIW

bifwynne
2,069 posts
 
Post script -- I replaced all the power tubes in my VS-115 with KT-120s. Aside from my sense that these tubes greatly improved the sound quality of my VS-115 as compared to the old 6550Cs, I understand that the KT-120s have a more robust build quality. So far, evrything is humming (pun - LOL). Again, FWIW.

Perhaps Gary (Hifigeek) can weigh in on his KT-120 experience. Gary is an ARC authorized service tech.
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