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Not looking good for Audio Research Company (ARC)?
- Thread starter twitch54
- Start date
They've had a pretty big presence at the last four or five AXPONA shows. At least since AXPONA moved to the Renaisssance Schaumburg convention center.
Regards,
Gordon.
Made a bunch of mistakes, especially chasing the ultra high end where there are fewer and fewer customers. There is a dwindling pathway of new gear to bring people there. Many other companies have done the same. Nosebleed pricing models. I own an LS1. It's a great entry level piece. Not "magical" but solid.
A lot of big companies go bust. I was at Kodak
In the 80's. Then Digital Equipment (gone) and
Nortel Networks (gone). Then Avaya-in and out of
bankruptcy. So this is nothing new. ARC made $$$
Stuff. They were in a market that slumps a lot.
Look at B&K, or McCormack. Lot's of others too.
I wish them luck, but most likely their business model
is DOA.
In the 80's. Then Digital Equipment (gone) and
Nortel Networks (gone). Then Avaya-in and out of
bankruptcy. So this is nothing new. ARC made $$$
Stuff. They were in a market that slumps a lot.
Look at B&K, or McCormack. Lot's of others too.
I wish them luck, but most likely their business model
is DOA.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
According to what I know, ARC got in the hands of venture capitalists, in 2010. Which is what caused this along with the death of the original owner of ARC. If Charlie Randall hadn't helped get McIntosh away from D&M Holdings and Bain Capital, the same would have happened to McIntosh. Because when Clarion took over, the company got it's first challenge, and lost a lot off it's key heritage people. Charlie Randall was old school McIntosh and a last link to their original management. He helped bring stability to the company.
Huh. My ancient Quintessence preamp is one of my favorite solid state bits of gear, and I've been futzing with it trying to get it to play nice with op amps newer (and better) than the 709s it was designed for. It will take 741s in the front end, but it gets very, very crabby about anything but the original TO-99 709s in the phono section. It also decided that it wasn't going to pass sound when I tried to replace a couple of 50 year old tantalum caps with paired electrolytics that I'd dialed in to be spot-on as a match to the capacitance of the original parts. The only time I can remember reinstalling vintage capacitors after removing them.
I've owned and enjoyed several ARC components over the years and was actually playing to buy another ARC preamp. That said, in retrospect, McIntosh dumping ARC was a good move. As much as I don't like the 2 or 3 lifestyle products that McIntosh makes, Charlie has done a good job of keeping the McIntosh on track, moving forward, while also sticking to the same look/traditional that has worked well.
I think Trent Suggs had the absolute best interest and intentions for ARC when he acquired the company; however, it appears his pockets weren't deep enough.
Yes, Audio Research is a legendary and valuable brand. But, in my opinion the lack of success and the receivership is a big blow. Time will tell. It's a safe assumption, based on the list of creditors that includes their dealers, they will have a difficult time bouncing back from this and making things right with the dealers they depend on. There are plenty of other brands that a dealer could pick up, if they decided to walk away from ARC.
jayvis
Addicted Member
Kodak, as a brand, is a thin shell of what it was. Its business model and product offerings are nothing like what they had in their heyday. Using that analogy, ARC might survive by marketing tube cages and perforated panels all produced in China.
Oh wait- I see the misunderstanding here.
Quintessence, as was being referred to above, is an AUDIO DEALER in the Chicago area. You're referring to the MANUFACTURER.
Sorry for the mix up.
Regards,
Gordon.
I certainly could have missed it, but I never saw a post asking for a separate ARC forum. I'd guess only a minority of AK members are up in that rarified stratosphere of equipment. With all the other super-expensive bling available, it doesn't seem they've priced themselves out of the market.
ARC has a much longer track-record than many other currently available tube brands. Might this be a canary in the coal mine and be indicative of future trends?
ARC has a much longer track-record than many other currently available tube brands. Might this be a canary in the coal mine and be indicative of future trends?
That's not too far off from what happened to Theil Audio a few years ago. What a tragic downfall of a great company.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiel_Audio
I asked about that a few years ago. The response was that ARC is already well represented on other forums. I thought it would be a nice contrast to the McIntosh section of AK, which is also by no means cheap.
trainbuftony
Electron Herder
I think the future of ARC could resemble the present company calling itself ""Bob Carver"
Putting in as little as possible and attempting to capitalize on a once respected name.
It's the new way!
Putting in as little as possible and attempting to capitalize on a once respected name.
It's the new way!
jayvis
Addicted Member
It's called milking it for all its worth.
That has to be the most positive spin on Kodaks collapse I've ever read but I've been gone from metro Rochester for some time.
Maybe they did pull a Lazarus act.
arts
Addicted Member
Just to clarify; Nortel did not "go bust".
Nortel was the victim of one of the greatest acts of internal, executive driven theft in history, coupled with an act of treason committed by the Canadian government that is only rivalled by the AVRO Arrow debacle.
I recently talked to an employee of ARC that I was buying some gear from that went his own way a year or two ago and said it was a sinking ship, the managers knowing nothing about the equipment, the owner drinking and yelling at employees.....etc.
Would be nice to see a rebirth of their product line.
Would be nice to see a rebirth of their product line.
