Audio Research discontinuing lower lines components?

Buy a nice silk smoking jacket and the most expensive meerschaum you can locate, then head for downtown New York, to visit the World of McIntosh(Fine Sounds new, multi-million Dollar, sales venue). They have plans to open more WOM venues in Berlin, Milan and Tokyo. You’ll have the privilege of financing their extremely high-dollar real-estate investments, with every equipment purchase. Perhaps they’ll even allow you to use the indoor pool and visit the roof-top garden, that you’ve paid for. (http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Brand/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=181&Block=1)

Everything not sold in mass quantities is following this trend, the income inequalities in USA are highest in world, save Brazil, it's sell for
big bucks or go broke for corporations of any size at all.

Just my opinion, but I feel that the tone of the complaints here are really unfair and unfounded.  AR is a company just like any other.  They consider themselves to be a "high end" audio company and therefore, they probably realized that the other equipment cannot compete price wise with like priced competition in the lower priced categories.

So, I believe that they made a business decision (which I don't agree with) to eliminate the lower priced equipment.

That's their choice.  I don't agree with the decision and I'm sure that many within AR didn't agree with that decision.  But, as you all know, you can voice your opinion to upper management, but after you do and management makes it decision, you have two choices.  1) move on with the knowledge that you expressed yourself or 2) move on to another company.

We will see if this decision isn't the start of the downfall of AR or if it is a sound business decision.

I don't think this was an internal AR decision but a parent company business decision.

Nothing wrong with the used equipment market.  Apparently, AR like many other companies come out with new or upgraded equipment every four years or so.  So the used market is pretty good.  You can now find used REF3s, REF5s or REF5SEs, Ph6, etc. for good prices and they are still equal to or better than most equipment out there. 

REF3s are a steal right now on the used market.  The DAC8 is still one of the best DACs out there, despite that awful review from a top magazine a few years ago.  I compared that DAC with many other top DACS and it was equal to or better than every one of them.  So, I realized that some reviewers are really biased and may be in the pocket of other competitors.

Anyway, please tone down the AR and McIntosh bashing.  Really good equipment that puts good hard working people to work. 

enjoy

Too bad,   I own and have liked ARC but oh well someone else will fill the niche if needed.   I wonder if their tube replacement and service costs will skyrocket as well?   If it does I will strongly consider dumping this brand now.

Sorry, but just to point out:  It isn't AR, it's ARC, (Audio Research Corporation).  AR is Acoustic Research.  For what that's worth anyway.