This may sound a bit silly but why are so many

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The economy is bad, maybe they need the money.
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Yeah, what Tomcy6 said. Even if you ever do get everything 'just right', something new comes out and your curiosity gnaws at you incessantly.

As good as the Ref 40 is, ARC eventually had to come out with a model that surpassed it. I'm always thankful when the new ARC preamp models come out, the prices of the pre-owned previous flagship models start to tumble and I get to move up the food chain a little. I should be ready for one of those pre-owned Ref 40's in a couple of years.
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Barrysandy, let's talk in about three years. I'll be ready for the Ref 40 by then, and your curiosity about the new models will have gotten the best of you by then.
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....Ouch! LOL!
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