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Why was the entry level line at Audio Research eliminated?

One of my first tube preamps was the SP-16. I believe it was the last preamp that founder William Z. Johnson developed. Price was around 2K-2.5K w/phono. It was an excellent reliable preamp. But now if you want a new entry level ARC it's not available. Too bad. Was it just not profitable. It was an excellent way to get into their gear and move up the ladder over time.
luxmancl38
adg101
1,064 posts
 
That’s good to hear. Hopefully things are better, but it would be nice to see them bring a couple models out that are more reasonably priced for people just getting into the hobby that might later move up the line. 
geof3
1,130 posts
 
I think part of the reason is the reality of the used market. If a company comes out with product X at whatever entry level price point, but one can get a hold of an upper line model gently used for similar money, that shallows the pool IMO. In the past, site like this one, USAudiomart etc didn’t exist. Could be part of the decision making process...
soix
11,253 posts
 
+1 @geof3.  From that perspective it’s really never been a better time to get into higher-end audio. 
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
There is plenty of older ARC product available used today.

ARC and others have found there is little demand and profit in less expensive product after the loss of the middle class since the 2008 crash.

IMO the new ARC does not have the richness and tone of the older ARC products since ARC was sold by Johnson the founder.
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,926 posts
 
primaluna line magnetic jolida other chinese made gear delivers on the modest to low end, arc can’t hope to compete, margin would be minimal, if not negative

new italian owners no doubt paid a premium for the company, amortizing the enormous brand equity, taking it international (read: china) with super high dollar ’reference’ level gear
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