Why are People Dumping their Audio Research Gear and What Does it Say about them?


Title says it all. Either you like it and it sounds good or not. What does it say about dealers that are dumping their demos? 

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In addition to the question of continued authorization to continue selling the brand, and the goodwill associated with being an "Authorized Dealer"  a dealer may be concerned about the cost of warranty coverage if the company does NOT continue. Often there are good business reasons for a retailer to honor and pick up the warranty costs for products they have sold if a particular manufacturer is no longer able to.   That could be a significant expense if they do not have an in-house repair facility for that particular brand. There is also the common psychology surrounding businesses in distress and being associated with them. 

Buyers may look for similar uncertainties with EVERY brand you sell and shy away from your storefront. Perhaps very unfair and even unwise, but not unusual.  I have been involved in retail sales and management since 1966 and can even recall one store owner who would initially not carry a line because of how the brand name sounded!  Over 50 years later the brand is still around, but unfortunately that small chain of stores isn't.

In a market as subjective as this one, reading the tea leaves has always been an inexact science.  Who in the late 90's would have predicted the CD, and all the hardware needed to get the best from that medium, would soon see a decline as steep and total as it had risen?  

Bottom Line - If YOU like the sound, keep enjoying it until you find something you feel suits you better.  Equipment ages (especially capacitors), and people age (especially their ears), and there will always be something new.  Enjoy what you have while it works well, and keep an open mind about what the future holds!

I personally am not seeing a lot of ARC product showing up for sale. I do not think anybody who owns and sells it are dumping the brand. That does not mean there are not issues. One of my Hi-Fi haunts did stop selling the product. Reasons given was lack of recognition of who they are, compounded by it being too expensive. So, people in that seller’s area passed on it and bought something from McIntosh instead. The second is the modern tube sound. 160m is an amp that has pristine voicing, a lot of people found it to be too analytical and sterile. I think that has been addressed with the new 160m mkII. The stereo 160 and 80 are reported to be more natural and organic sounding.

ARC has never been a company that designs their amps to be velvety and lush. Those that are looking for that I think are investing into something different. IMHO, I think they gone a little too far with emulating the accuracy of a solid-state amps, would like to see them allow a little romance back into their house sound. Like I remember the earlier models had. What is interesting is that they are not the only historic brand that does this. The current version of McIntosh 275 does not sound like the ones that were first released. They too are more accurate sounding versus sweet.

Dump away! I’ll happily buy any ARC gear for $1 or maybe more, subject to negotiation. 

I agree with @ideal8592   I will be pleased to take any ARC off of any of you if you want to dump it in my lap.  

From what I have seen, the prices are holding pretty well--at least they are mostly above what I can afford.  I did see a VT-100 up the road from me that is reasonable...I will give the owner a call.

Anyone wants to "dump" a pair of 610's or 750's on me for a few bucks, or a working D-150, give me a shout!

Cheers!