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The VT80SE was created as a flexible, great-sounding amplifier that is easy to enjoy and easy to live with, every day. A direct descendant of our Reference amplifiers that borrows from their acclaimed designs and using many of their parts, the VT80SE sounds like a much larger amplifier with impressive dynamics, control, and resolution.
OVERVIEW
Very Good condition Pre-Owned Audio Research VT80 SE Tube Amplifier
Original box, power cable, manual
Rated 8/10 for minor cosmetic wear consistent with age and use.
SPECIFICATIONS
• 75 watts per channel stereo vacuum tube power amplifier
• Fully balanced differential circuit design
• Four KT150 output tubes (2 matched pairs)
• Two 6H30 driver tubes
• Automatic bias (Auto-Bias) system – no manual tube bias adjustment required
• Compatible with KT150, KT120, KT88, 6550, and KT90 output tubes
• Balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) inputs
• 4-ohm and 8-ohm speaker output taps
• Frequency response: 0.7 Hz – 94 kHz (±3 dB)
• THD: Typically less than 1% at rated power
• Input impedance: 300 kΩ balanced / 150 kΩ single-ended
• Output regulation: Approximately 0.6 dB from no load to full load
• Automatic tube monitoring and protection circuitry
• Front-panel power meter and status LEDs
• 12V trigger input for system integration
• Hand-built in the USA
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please call 734.662.3595 and ask for Richard if you have any questions about this product.
We make every effort to update our ads quickly when inventory fluctuates, but we encourage you to call and check product availability, as we are also a brick and mortar store.
The Audio Research VT80SE is a revered Foundation Series hybrid amplifier known for blending tube warmth with solid-state control, delivering 75Wpc with KT150 outputs. At US$6,495, this asking price is a strong bargain, sitting well below the 25th percentile of US$7,309 from recent comparable listings and significantly under the median of US$8,124. It represents an excellent entry point for this high-performance model, which originally retailed near US$8,900–US$9,500.
This amplifier excels in dynamic range and tonal richness, making it a top choice for serious two-channel listeners. The upside here is timing and value: acquiring a well-regarded hybrid at roughly 30% below the lower end of the current used market is rare. Unless the condition is questionable or critical accessories like the tube cage are missing, this clean listing at a genuine discount should be treated as a prime buying opportunity rather than a risk.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Audio Research Corporation, founded in 1970 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by William Z. Johnson, traces its roots to his pioneering work in custom audio electronics during the 1950s and his operation of a specialty retail store through the mid-1960s. After a brief stint selling his designs to a larger firm, Johnson regained independence to establish ARC with a singular mission: advancing the state-of-the-art in music reproduction. From modest beginnings in the back of his shop, the company evolved into one of America's oldest continuously operating high-end audio manufacturers, now housed in a state-of-the-art 48,000-square-foot facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
ARC specializes in performance-driven electronics, renowned for vacuum-tube amplifiers, preamplifiers, and electronic crossovers that emphasize sonic purity over flashy features or aesthetics. Drawing on circuit designs rooted in the 1950s, the brand integrates tubes into modern contexts, delivering what it calls "high definition" sound through genuine technological advances. While not venturing into speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables, ARC's focused lineup prioritizes amplifiers and preamps that set benchmarks for musical realism.
Positioned at the pinnacle of high-end audio, Audio Research is hailed as a true originator of the genre, commanding respect among audiophiles for its unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. Enduring the 1970s tube revival against solid-state dominance, ARC thrives via elite specialist retailers worldwide, standing alongside peers like Conrad-Johnson as a vintage-inspired yet forward-thinking force in the niche boutique market.
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