The amp is super heavy (40+ lbs), so shipping is expensive.
I like it a lot--definitely changes the sound to something warmer. It's also a beautiful object, especially in the dark. The aftermarket tubes helped resolve bass, but are probably overkill (I used them as a reward to myself for crunch on a contract gig).
Note that tube amps have a lot of downsides--you can't leave them on 24/7, they make a lot of heat (so can't stack with other electronics), you need to tune voltage during the first few months of operation, only stereo output with minimal AV switching, etc...
