[twitch54]

from a thread over @ WBF..........

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/whither-audio-research.36751/

[SteveFord]

I think all of the tube audio vendors must be having some problems by now.

[avahifi]

I am surprised that ARC did not benefit from the huge increase in sales that many of us did durning the virus stay at home couple of years.

Our increase in sales financed development of several new products, circuits, chassis and all.

Frank

[jpm]

I am surprised that ARC did not benefit from the huge increase in sales that many of us did durning the virus stay at home couple of years.

Our increase in sales financed development of several new products, circuits, chassis and all.

That's your commitment to the business and to your craft. Other owners might choose to buy a new yacht!

[whydontumarryit]

This from Aug. 2020

AUDIO RESEARCH CORPORATION UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

‘TWS Enterprises, LLC, a privately held company owned wholly by Trent Suggs, has agreed to purchase Audio Research from the McIntosh Group, Inc. subject to completion of due diligence which is expected to be finalized by the end of August.’

ARC could have been selling units in the single digits/month for the last 20 yrs. for all we know. A small player in the industry with a name worth more than the company itself. Not charging enough and doing no marketing can't be overcome for very long. Not to mention this business is cut-throat these days.

[Wayner]

I'm sure that ARC had a manufacturing/office facility, employees that were paid a nice salary with benefits and retirement, plus all of the other expenses that affected their production (parts availability, price increases) and a shrinking demand for their product due to the cost of their high end equipment, which further reduced their customer base. The Titanic sank because it could not maneuver around the iceberg, whereas a small crafts could easily maneuver around it.

Add to that a workforce that has become unwilling to work (or do not know haw to work) and the rising costs due to inflation, have caused many employees to migrate to greener pastures.

As America slips into a 2 class society (rich and poor, no middle class), the dominos of the past will start to tumble. I believe the show will start this summer as banks (like SVB) start to fail. Raising interest rates on home mortgages have broken that industry, so I suspect other industries will follow suit.

[Bingenito]

Sadly above is correct. The economic symptoms are now being observed but the issue has not even exposed itself yet. Audio companies are the very least of your problems.

[Mike B.]

I bought a complete ARC setup back in the 1970's. Magnaplaner B, D76, SP3. The D76 and SP3 went through upgrades to new models. I now own a Reference 75 amp. The company has always been a rock in terms of service and answering questions. I hope they survive.

[SlushPuppy]

You can tell when a brand is in trouble when you look at the big show reports and there isn't even a tiny bit of coverage about them. I saw no mention of ARC from any of the Axpona 2023 sites I followed.

[rollo]

   IMHO more to come. We had a booming economy 3 years ago.

charles

[twitch54]

   IMHO more to come. We had a booming economy 3 years ago.

charles

actually three years ago we had a world economy on the brink of shutting down !

[Bingenito]

Audio sales were up due to everyone spending more time at home. Prices skyrocketed regardless if it was speakers, dacs or eggs. What goes up must….

[timind]

actually three years ago we had a world economy on the brink of shutting down !

   IMHO more to come. We had a booming economy 3 years ago.

charles

The world economy is always booming or on the verge of collapse, depending on who you listen to. 

[SteveFord]

According to that What's Best thread a new owner for ARC may be coming up shortly.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

They need to make some lower end more affordable gear so people can get their foot in the door and want to upgrade to some of their more costly gear.  How about some amps, preamps and DAC's in the $2500 to $3500 range.  I like the sound of some of their gear but I can't stand the rack look.  Time to do something new.

[FullRangeMan]

They need to make some lower end more affordable gear so people can get their foot in the door and want to upgrade to some of their more costly gear.  How about some amps, preamps and DAC's in the $2500 to $3500 range.  I like the sound of some of their gear but I can't stand the rack look.  Time to do something new.

+1. 
In the AR price range they have strong competition from the big McIntosch group and various small boutique US builders, not to mention many Euro tube manufactures and Solid State top amps from Asia and EU as ASR Emitter, Luxman, Accuphase to say few.

The AR amps always were expensive for what they offer, no Hard-Wiring only PCBs, needs highly matched tubes sold only by AR at premium prices, only PP no SE amps, but AR was selling well in the US for many years due to the patriotism of its fellow audiophiles.

[TomS]

They need to make some lower end more affordable gear so people can get their foot in the door and want to upgrade to some of their more costly gear.  How about some amps, preamps and DAC's in the $2500 to $3500 range.  I like the sound of some of their gear but I can't stand the rack look.  Time to do something new.

The I/50 integrated is exactly that, and it seemed to be a smash hit before things went South. Very cool piece 
https://audioresearch.com/i50/

[Bob2]

"The world economy is always booming or on the verge of collapse, depending on who you listen to."

+1

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The I/50 integrated is exactly that, and it seemed to be a smash hit before things went South. Very cool piece 
https://audioresearch.com/i50/

The I/50 integrated sells for $5500 not $3K.  $4K to $5K is still out of range for a lot of people.  I like Parasounds model of business.  They have some inexpensive gear for people to get their foot in the door.  And then they have their JC monoblocks for $16K and some excellent sounding phono preamps.

[jpm]

I like the sound of some of their gear but I can't stand the rack look.  Time to do something new.

Agreed. I've never heard their gear but the look is very dated to me and not in an iconic way.