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Manufacturers past their heyday

There are many companies that we all recall from years gone by that are gone. There are some companies that while still around, seem be be past their glory days. For instant, while Conrad Johnson is still around, they just don’t seem to be nearly as relevant as they used to be. Of course, my thought on CJ are purely subjective. And yet other companies seem to be as relevant today as they were 20 of more years ago. VPI perhaps? Definitely McIntosh. 

Who are the other former high flyers that seem to be operating on an altogether different level these days? 
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gmercer
193 posts
 
CJ has become so underrated. Their flagship ART150 ART300 are the best tubes I’ve ever heard.
Two companies that have gone out of business:

AcousticPlan (they made among other great gear a very cool cd transport where the cd was exposed)

Le Son (ultra high end Swiss company, made what some considered the best DAC, their website has been offline for 6+ months now so I’m assuming the worst)
edlchiang1962
14 posts
 
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jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
Just because a well-known company doesn't have as high as profile in the U.S. as it once had, doesn't necessarily mean that the company is faltering. Sometimes, simply, their primary markets shift overseas, and in those other countries they are highly appreciated.


yes... or they are doing just fine without the marketing treadmill at high rpm...  it is called brand equity...
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audioman58
4,186 posts
 
Agreed CJ 15 years ago was still a highly regarded name 
I bought the Premier 11A Tube amp, andPremier 17  great stuff.
When the owners stopped being part of it like McIntosh 
with it went the integrity and passion . I did see CJ has a-nice Amp 
They just came  out with . Audio Research took a slide also when they started going cheap. Their Reference-line is very good .

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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@audioman58

you have no idea what you are talking about

https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/conrad-johnson-sold/

c-j still operates with high integrity and high standards... founding owners get old, retire or pass... this company was passed down to a loyal employee who continues to do the right thing

arc is a different matter, sold to french holding co who also owns mcintosh... but more recently has been bought back by the old management team led by former sales head 

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/mcintosh-group-sells-audio-research-corporation-tws-enterprises...
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