Audio Research equipment for sale.


A few days ago they had about 15 listing for sale from Audio Research. Then I just checked a few days ago until now and there is not one listed. Does anyone know why ? 

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Ok. I finally got it to go. I thought it had something to do with ARC going bankrupt 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️😂

Ok. I finally got it to go. I thought it had something to do with ARC going bankrupt 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️😂

I have a list of equipment I aspire to.

On it I added an Audio Research piece owned by Arnold Nudell.

I took note of it; after all, it was chosen by the man himself for his personal system.

A few years later I watched a video: Arnold Nudell was touting the new amp by PS Audio, tube input stage, solid state output stage, designed by Bascom King.

He loved it and believed it outdid his Audio Research amp.

A comment he made always stuck in my mind.

I paraphrase: he said, ‘And I was getting tired of spending $1500 every 6 or 9 months on new tubes.’

Then it struck me, a new perspective on audio: there’s the equipment that the owners of multi-million dollar audio corporations own, and then there’s my world.

I have no experience with AR equipment but I can tell you my PS Audio BHK 250 amp and BHK Signature Preamp sound amazing to my ears.

Some very "wishful" prices listed here for used gear.  I especially enjoy the SP-3 listings...some say A-1, some do not.  First of all, they were $595 when I started selling them.  They went to $695 and then $795 (A-1 version).  What many do not know is that we dealers were sent kits to upgrade the SP-3 units in stock to A-1 levels.  I did this at my desk with a soldering iron.  I think the kit was free to us, and it consisted of about 6-7 parts as I remember (someone can let me know if I remember correctly--it was 1974-5, so a LONG time ago).

The funny thing is that the prices asked for some of these are higher than newer and, frankly, better ARC pre-amps--specifically the two-chassis models and some of the newer Reference Series models.

Obviously, as a seller, you can ask any price you wish for an item.  Wise buyers will recognize the silly price and choose another item.

Personally, I still use an SP-6B and would love to find a good D-150 I could afford!  

I see a number of EC-21 crossovers, which I searched for over the years and finally found one.  Funny!  Also enjoyed the many "AR" cone speakers listed.  Whatever...

Many of these are from overseas, thus are not compatible with US power unless converted.  I have no idea how that works, but I am sure others do.

Maybe people are worried about ARC going out of business and their equipment losing value.

A fellow I know had ARC gear for 30 years and he had the 750 amps, twice he sent them in to arc for repairs, said they were thousands to repair. The second time he got them back he traded and/or sold all the arc gear he had. He looked me in the eye and said  'arc is supposed to be the best gear in the world, right' He got 35,000 for the amps trade in from a dealer in Fla he told me.  He went all ss using German gear. Burmester gear maybe! 

I had a full complement of Audio Research gear a few years ago. Sounded great but felt that there were other options which were their performance equals at much better price points. Also, just the size of the Audio Research gear was challenging to the space I had for them. I have always viewed Audio Research as something of the 'gold standard' but I think they are going to have to rethink their product line to stay in the hunt.

ARC makes very nice equipment.  If needed there are people who know their products and can repair them. So don't rush to sell your ARC gear.  Happy Listening 

Yes, It really make no sense to sell your Audio Research gear.  If it works, great.

There are many authorized Audio Research repair centers around and they have spare parts or can obtain them easily.  

Also, I don't believe that Audio Research company is going out of business.  They may change owners as they have done in the past.  

enjoy

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I have enjoyed AR equipment for many years.  Started with a modded LS-16 by The Great Northern Sound Company (Steve Huntley- fantastic preamp that comes in handy on occasion) then a phono PH-6 that I sold.  I have a pair of mono AR amps (vm-220) that have 12 tubes per channel.  I take them out to use during the winter because it gets too warm in my California listening room during the summer months.  I just re-tubed with 6550s (4 matched quads) from AR - good timing!  I was going to list them this Summer, but now AR is no more.