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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
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 .
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Wow! Look at all the removed posts! My last post was deleted!

Heavy moderation here, must be someone throwing some money Audiogon's way to make things look as they wish.

oregonpapa, you had any of your posts deleted? I doubt it.
Maybe ARC is on the case. Time to make this thread disappear.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
I think Bernie Sanders had my posts deleted.  LOL!
jafreeman's avatar
jafreeman
689 posts
 
HiFi products in general are a luxury, and ARC is more of a luxury brand now than ever before, even though their MN headquarters and plant reside in a light-industry business park of single story buildings with modest office fronts. I have been to their parts desk/freight door and have seen the dozens of their white boxes with blue lettering waiting to go out.  Their prices are not high due to inflation--there hasn't been any in years--but to the ever-shrinking middle class that is surviving not on pay raises, but on borrowing. Housing, food and clothing prices have gone up and up, with salaries and wages staying flat--for decades.  There is a much smaller segment of America that can go out and buy a luxury item, so WOM/ARC is going to target an upper-income, international market.  There's a lot of money out there, but in the hands of fewer people.  This should not be a surprise, unless you get your news from the channel that will accuse you of having class envy.     

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