Vac Phi 200 vs. Audio Research Reference 75

Well I do not own either. But I DO own both companies products.
And BOTH are very good stuff.
The only reason I would wonder about buying one or the other (aside from listening to them) would be warranty and followup.
Now VAC is great, but it IS one guy. When he goes, the company is gone.
ARC on the otherhand , is likely to be around for a long time.
Also repairs.
My VAC STandard is mine ONLY because of the very long repair time from VAC company.
The prior owner sent it for repairs,and it took more than a few months.. in the meantime the owner found another preamp, and so sold the VAC to me. Great for me, not so great for customers waiting for repairs.

So not that should be the only consideration, but one should be aware of it.
Like I said I love my VAC ppreamp, and my ARC preamp (a SP-15)
So it is a tough decision. Both are fine products.

Plus if you buy new, you may have to wait for the VAC to be built. The ARC is going to be in stock or a day or two away.

The VAC is going to be far more 'exclusive' (exotic) though.

What you say is true with most small companies. When Israel Bloom of Coincident or the guy from Magico goes, so will those products. I would not worry about this life is too short. Many people know how to fix tube circuits.

I have owned gear from both companies, they will both work well with the right equipment. The ARC will be more revealing, it is the most resolving tube gear I have ever heard. That said, some find it a bit too light for their tastes. The VAC is also highly resolving, but not quite so much as the ARC. The VAC gear will have just a hint of tube sweetness. I must admit that I prefer the sound of the VAC gear.

I agree with Jwm, I would not worry about the long term future of an audio company, tube circuits are fairly easy to find a good repair-person for. Many tube circuits have been around for many decades, just using different tubes and faceplates, while much of the circuit remains unchanged.

I will take Phi 200 without hesitating.

You dont even need to listen to both these amp. Just open up and see the inside you will know why I will buy the VAC instead of Ref 75.

Vac phi200 is 2k more expensive than Ref 75 tough.