Audio Research preamps EXCESSIVE OPERATING COSTS

The first service on a Mclaren is $30,000. So is the second, etc.  As a service advisor told a woman in front of me, who was complaining about her bill when I was paying my bill, "Maybe you are not the type of person who should own a BMW."  I concur, and I sold my POS BMW.  Audio Research has been one of my favorite audio companies since their beginning; however, I am not the type of person who should own it, because I demand low maintanence costs.  I used to drive Alfa Romeos, but cannot justify their costs.  That is why transistors were invented, for people like us.  

I don't understand why you can't leave a tube preamp on all the time, I leave mine on all the time, it doesn't seem to need tube replacement very often. 

Invalid
What is the watt level for operating your preamp?
The manual for the arc Ref 6se says it draws. 130 watts. Not sure how accurate this is and whether a lot lower when in bypass mode.

a mc mc255 amp draws about 65 watts at moderate levels.

If you are concerned about the price of tubes and even the small amount of electricity to power them, you are in the wrong hobby.  Get yourself a boom box and then you can complain about the cost of the battery’s.  I would never want my family to just sit around all day and watch TV and movies.  Makes for very lazy people. 

I believe that you have to assess, what is most important to you. Watching TV/ movies HT experience or listening to music. 

1.If you find that watching TV / movies takes priority then you should invest in a mid - fi Solid State HT System, with Subs etc, as others have suggested.

2.If you find that listening to music takes priority, then isolate it out of the HT system completely. Get a sound bar for the TV and Invest in fantastic tube equipment, speakers, power delivery, and cables....

3.If you need to have both, then treat them as two separate systems. Work within a budget acceptable for you, and put the majority of your investment  towards your tube based equipment for exceptional music listening. The rest put towards Mid - Fi solid state receiver and speakers/subs for TV and HT. Can get best bang for buck on used market.

You also need to accept the fact that there is no all in one solution. Yeah they market it but... Look at it like this

You want a Porsche 911 Turbo S because you want to go 0-60 in 2.2 seconds, with 640hsp.  However because you have your family to consider you are looking at a Porsche Cayenne - 350hsp 0-60 in 6 seconds - And it has a turbo boost sport package button that gives you more power when you need it. But most importantly is still a Porsche.
But you find the cost to maintain the Cayenne does not justify the sacrifice in performance you have to make or live with. So get the the family a used Chevy Trailblazer - (HT Solid State) Solid- reliable and does the job. Then Invest in a Porsche Carrera 4S - (High - Fi Tube Equipment) and meet your expectations.