Audio Research filing for bankruptcy?

Dealers were notified last week.  Most companies fail because of sales. How many units do you think they were selling?  The high end market as we know it is almost completely gone. Counterpoint sold 10,000 units and failed.  Look at the prices of some equipment compared to upgrading those units. Much better to upgrade then to buy new.  That's why we do repairs and upgrades. The values may drop but the units can be repaired.  Another company may buy them but there is no guarantee they will continue on especially with passion.

Hopefully they won't be purchased by a private equity firm as wee all know what happens then, and as @clearthinker mentioned.

I still can't help wondering if the problem isn't a shrinking market and inflating prices. Fifty years ago when I was first getting into audio, Audio Research gear was out of my price range, and if new, it still is, but the price differential between now and then is just way beyond average inflation rates for most (not all} consumer goods.   

At the same time, there is an ageing and shrinking customer base, as well as an infinite and tempting variety of domestic and imported brands in the Audio Research price range. It's not hard to see why there would be a problem, even if the company was being well managed.

@roxy54    I'm not sure ARC prices have moved ahead by much more than inflation.

I recall the SP10 was $4,000 when launched around 1980.  The Ref 6 is currently around $17,000.

$100 in 1980 is $360 now, so the Ref 6 ought to be $14,400, so not much less than its current $17,000 price.

Most people would say the Ref 6 is a better amp, but I can listen to my SP10 and there is much less difference than you might think.  I have to listen on my second system as my main system is balanced from stylus to power output.  The SP10 is definitely warmer, but then some who favour tube amps also favour 'warmth'.

Plus, IIRC, my SP10 had a damn good phono stage. 😉  Ref 10 does not.

IMHO, ARC gear went through the roof, price wise.