RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Are you looking for a proven 100-watt tube amplifier at a genuinely attractive price? At US$1,599, this sits exactly at the median of three recent comparable listings, making it a fair market buy rather than a bargain—but certainly not an ambitious ask. It is also well above the US$1,250 25th-percentile level, so condition and tube history matter.
The VT100 Mk II remains a serious performer: smooth, natural midrange, strong transient attack, detailed highs, and unusually firm, well-controlled bass for a tube design. Its upgraded power supply gives the Mk II impressive dynamic headroom and drive, while balanced and single-ended inputs add system flexibility. Since the listing gives no condition details, verify output-tube age, bias performance, service history, fan operation, and included cage or accessories; a healthy, recently serviced example would make US$1,599 a sensible purchase.
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.
See all Audio Research listings on RADAR.
