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Audio Research discontinuing lower lines components?

I have looked at several components in Audio Research's line and they are discontinuing the LS17-se, PH8, and PH6.  They discontinued the DAC 8.  I know there is a new Ref 6 to replace the Ref 5se and their is a new Ref Phono 3 to replace the Ref Phone 2se coming out.  I talked to my dealer and he stated that Audio Research seems to be making their components look more McIntosh like in the Galeo series. 

The dealer stated their isn't going to be anything that he has heard that will replace the other lines at this point and that AR will be starting at the LS-27, which is $7500 for preamps.  The Ref 75se is the beginning of the line for Amps, which I know, but man are they going the Mac route with prices, nothing to replace the DAC 8 and the other DAC in the line is $11,000, what's up with this, have you guys heard anything more. 

The starting point for AR equipment is getting pretty high and the only way a newer person without means will be able to afford it will be to buy use, which could send the used prices up if there isn't anything else in the line.  What do you guys think and what have you heard?
sid1
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
labtec is right, there is no sense in bashing ARC, they are simply the messenger. Sure, their top of the line preamp lists for 3X the price of their top preamp 8 years ago, but look around, just about every other audio company has done the same thing in the last 8-10 years.

As schubert pointed out, this is about income inequality, not about ARC.
ARC is just doing what their customers demand. Their customer base wants to spend more money, so ARC will oblige and take more money. No different than what the other high end companies are doing.

Why would any of these fine high end companies wish to compete with the booming Chinese market of products? There is no future there.

It's not personal.....it's just business.
david12
1,454 posts
 

I am afraid prices for all High End companies are rising exponentially and I am sure it is at least in part, due to a small turnover. Like it or not, our hobby is dying on it's feet, with fewer and fewer people interested in setting up a decent system, compared with the golden age of the 60's and 70's say.

 I know this isn't news to anybody, but we all have some idea of economics and business. The fewer sales there are, the more manufacturing costs and overheads are carried on each item sold. This is not going to change either, I can not see the High End dying out, but it will limp on with a rump of customers. Companies must adapt or die and they are. I think the middle ground is most at risk., there is some sort of budget industry selling reasonable amounts and the top end can manage with a few sales at insane prices. This may be why ARC is abandoning it's lower price ranges. As a company they are very good at churning over the product line, to persuade us to upgrade what we have or buy the latest and "best".

 There have always been some real gems in their products and for me they have mainly been in the Power Amp area. The ARC Ref 75SE is one of these I believe

ebm
9,311 posts
 
Had ARC 20 yrs ago don't care now!!
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Its also a function of  computers ,smartphones , video games etc eating up average Joe's spare change . Till computers came out in the 70's all that cash went into hi-fi .
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,249 posts
 
It’s a matter of priorities too. If good sound is important enough to you, you’ll find a way to get the money. Audiophilia has always been an exclusive club---the people who don’t care enough now wouldn’t have in the 70’s either. I had to sacrifice other consumer desirables in order to be able to buy an SP-3 and Dual 51 & 75 to bi-amp Magneplanar Tympanis in ’72, and they weren’t cheap then either ($595, $695, $995, and $995 respectively, in 1972 dollars. A new Toyota was then $2,000, a BMW 2002 $4,000). But I agree, the pricing has really spiraled out of control. Just be thankful ARC enthusiasts are upgraders---their cast-offs are great values!
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