ARC Ref 3 preamp - updates or concerns

Your best bet is to contact ARC with the serial number and ask them if there were any updates made after it's production.

From what I've read there were some changes made over it's production run.

The REF 3 has an hours in use counter built in...

And a comment on the 97% of new price for the Audio Research SP-10 is a very unusual phenomenon.
A few products now and then have such a glorious mystique built up around them that the prices just climb due to hoarding and profiteers.

Personally I bought a SP-10 locally for $800 or so, (and part of that was some useless to me junk) I owned it for awhile, and saw an Audio Research Sp-15 here on the gon' and bought it too.
I compared the two and hands down the Sp-15 was far better than the Sp-10. IMO.

Now it may be that my SP-10 needed better tubes. And some mavens will say with the right tubes 'yadda yadda..'
Anyway, since I am not going to SPEND a fortune on tubes and play around endlessly trying to achieve sonic bliss with the SP-10. I sold it for $800 less than the going prices.. (so the new owner could spend some money on tubes.. And I am not trying to gouge anyone, even though I listed it for three times what I had just paid for it a month before LOL) and basically got my Sp-15 for free. All because of the mystique of the SP-10.
Sucker bait if you ask me.
SO yeah a FEW ARC reoducts have a great resale value. I am glad my SP-15 was down to 25% of new. And near that is my Audio Research PH-2 which was $2,500 new, and is selling for about $750 now. (30%) Both wonderful sleepers.

I had A problem with my Ref3, it wasn't a big deal, one of the tube socket's had to be changed at the two year mark, ( purchased it new ) , the repair was done locally. The hour meter can be reset, so be careful if your looking for a used one.