The number of US brands at European dealers today is negligible, the opposite of true about European brands at US dealers. I can see how ARC appeals to the older generation and a very wealthy segment of it, and how other, mostly Scandinavian brands figured out the formula to find a much broader audience. |
Way back in the late 90s an iconic German sport car manufacturer realized they couldn't survive making only two seater sports car. They needed to make a vehicle that had mass appeal and that was the genesis of the Porsche SUV. SUV models now account for 63% of Porsche sales. ARC needs to come up with products that have mass appeal if they wish to survive long term. They need to expand beyond their niche while still keeping their existing customer base. A difficult task, but not impossible. |
@grislybutter A billion bucks of speaker sales last year. So, in toto, about 5 pairs each of Magico M9s and Wilson Chronosonics then. |
ARC isn’t set up to be a high-volume manufacturer. They’re a premium brand that plays in the higher end. Full stop. They are not Sony. And there is plenty of room for audio manufacturers in that space and plenty are doing well. This strikes of mismanagement to me, which leaves me hopeful that someone who understands the luxury goods market can rescue this iconic company assuming they find the right buyer. I’m hopeful and optimistic that there’s enough brand equity and concerned long-term employees that they’ll find the right solution and soldier on. |
Yes, I have been tracking both KT150s and KT120s past 3 years, closely. Picked up two spare quad sets in small availability windows that came and went again. My amps use these tubes only. Checking monthly, the group of less known suppliers I use [who stock up] are out of stock, again. Checking the manufacturer - they are out of stock again too. Clearly the war and supply lines as mentioned is not helping the situation. The major supply in volume outside of individual sellers is relatively thin, gone for now. The supplies I tracked that "were coming in May" are "out of stock" again or never came in. Not sure exactly but the message is the same. Following ARC past few years, they were purchasing big batches, and then sorting again matching even closer matched sets in supply box groupings/ranges for new amps and replacements for customers re-tubuing their amps. Seems It's kinda hard to sell new amps or service existing customers in volume when you can't get output tubes in supply, or how you need them. I'm wondering who will surface to clone KT120s and KT150s, take it on, and start selling them. |
