High End 2014
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The GSPre will cost about $18,000, the GS150 will cost $25,000 and the GSi75 will come in at about $19,000.
The Galileo's are probably targeted to the emerging Asiatic markets - Sonusfaber is now selling a significant part of their production in these markets. They are now part of the McIntosh group, that will take care of the classic "look" of American high quality audio and the new stylish look will show the Audio Research. I feel long time admirers of the brand, as me, will not enjoy the new designs, but perhaps younger people will appreciate them.
Curiously Galileo is also the name of the new European GPS system being build by the European Space Agency. Perhaps each unit will have its GPS locator!
Curiously Galileo is also the name of the new European GPS system being build by the European Space Agency. Perhaps each unit will have its GPS locator!
not feeling it.
the new owners wasted no time in 'reinventing' an a American icon and giving it an Italian twist (galileo? puhleeze) jmo, but if this is the new direction for ARC the brand will loose its cachet with ARC traditionalist.
I think we are seeing the demise of ARC as we have known it, not saying its bad, just a significant change in direction.
Hold on to the ARC gear you have and purchase now because you never know what is going to happen. Inevitably, new owners what to make changes and that can be dangerous....
Most definitely this is the driver behind this exercise. Catering to the emerging market of nouveau riche audio snobs in emerging markets - slap new look on existing designs, jack up price and presto. Can't fault commercial enterprises for wanting to make a buck though.
Ditto Hasselblad since the Chinese took it over---yes RIP ARC as we knew it--even Sonus F no longer the product the great Franco Serblin envisaged
Progress?--what progress--retrograde in my opinion.
Bruce D
In Italy we have an old saying: "non e' bello cio' che e' bello ma e' bello cio' che piace" (that should sound something like "it's not beautiful what is beautiful, but it's beautiful what you like", but I believe that there is a similar saying in a better English). That said, IMHO the new look it's quite ugly!
I do not like the new look. I do however thing that the ARC future is perfectly secured - especially AFTER the Charlie Randall, longtime President of McIntosh and the Mauro Grange, CEO of Fine Sounds SpA, did the McIntosh / ARC / SF management buyout.
I have talked both with ARC and Mc guys at the show, and they are much more relaxed now. The position of Charlie Randall has strenhtened big time, and he is the one who nows how to make sure audiophiles are happy.
I have talked both with ARC and Mc guys at the show, and they are much more relaxed now. The position of Charlie Randall has strenhtened big time, and he is the one who nows how to make sure audiophiles are happy.
Would the English saying you are referring to be "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"?In Italy we have an old saying: "non e' bello cio' che e' bello ma e' bello cio' che piace" (that should sound something like "it's not beautiful what is beautiful, but it's beautiful what you like", but I believe that there is a similar saying in a better English). That said, IMHO the new look it's quite ugly!
not feeling it.
the new owners wasted no time in 'reinventing' an a American icon and giving it an Italian twist (galileo? puhleeze
The more I look at them, me neither. Somehow I bet that WZJ is not happy from the other side. Somebody let the Italians loose on ARC and now the products don't look like ARC gear anymore and the new prices are through the roof. ARC gear was never cheap, but in the crazy world of the high-end, it still represented something of a bargain. Those days are gone now with the "G" series.
That doesn't quite get the meaning. Translated into more conversational English, it would be like saying, "It's not beautiful because it looks good, it's beautiful because I like it."
I don't care for the new look either. I'm also very curious to see if the performance matches the new price points. From a strictly visual perspective, it "feels" overpriced to me.
It does feel overpriced. I wonder how they compare sonically to the REF series products? Although I am a fan of Fine Sounds Group and the energy and capital they are putting in to their companies, I really don't like what the Italian designer has done to Wadia and now ARC. I just don't see these products taking off, even in the overseas market. The best thing Fine Sounds can do is leave Wadia and ARC alone to design products as they have in the past.
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
Wow if the new gear is better than the old wont most of the people here have egg on their face?
I love the internet, no one has heard it but it sure is fun to bash !!
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