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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
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don_c55
1,025 posts
 
ARC has not been the same since the founder passed and the company was sold.

Now all the "upgrades" are expensive capacitors that take 500 hours to "break in"!

No changes to the basic circuit designs from years past.

There is little affordable audio equipment from anyone today because, the middle class was wiped out, and only old farts have home stereos. 
schubert
7,386 posts
 
don c55, very well put !
Oregonpapa, real estate firms control prices on a what the market will bear basis and that alone . Same house in rustbelt city under 100K .
There is little more discredited than Austrian School . Only socialization is Private Firm losses to public debt .
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
Schubert ...

I've been in the real estate business for the past 38 years. I can assure you that real estate firms do not control the prices of houses. Supply and demand does. And quite honestly, if you think free market economics (Austrian School) takes a back seat to Keynesian economics, all one has to do is take a good look at the national debt of 20 trillion and unfunded liabilities in excess of 200 trillion. 

Hopefully there isn't anything offensive in the above post that would cause it to  be removed by the mods. 

Again ... why are steaks over 50 bucks for three steaks at Costco, college tuition over 40 grand a year and a new ARC REF-6 four thousand dollars more than what the REF-3 cost in 2008?
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Wrong, people are in effect "herded" into areas where money goes , if there is supply and demand its in people not dollars .
Austrian is a fantasy, there is not ever been such a thing as a free-market nor will there ever be .
Adam Smith himself ,under pressure, admitted "invisible hand" was the British Empire .That doesn’t mean Keynesian econ is all that either, in any event our debt is a function of "crony Capitalism " .
" Unfunded" is like Austrian, a fantasy, few strokes of a pen= what SS ?. what Medicare,, What VA?, what penion, etc,etc etc
The steaks cost 50 bucks because the material used in agriculture is price controlled by Monsanto. Cargill ,etc,etc
and the market will bear it in CA. Goes double for the college .
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