Whither Audio Research

godofwealth · Jun 2, 2023

Big Dog RJ said:
Correct! Also just to add, if your amplifiers have a large bank of tubes, this means more heat. For example, the average number of output tubes in push-pull config on ultra linear mode of say around 60w may comprise of just 4 output tubes. Anything above that number, say 10 to 16 tubes or 8 / 10 power tubes per monoblock, may put out anything between 100 to 300w per channel, this is far more excessive heat. In which case, with the covers off, will certainly have better ventilation. I guess that's why ARC still uses cooling fans at the rear of their high powered amplifiers.

Nice to see that ARC's back in the saddle. Now they just need to figure out the product line-up, and decide moving forwards, which ones to continue with and which ones to drop... you can't offer everything and end up in debt again. Definitely don't want that! Interesting to see where they're headed within the next decade. Good thing to know that the new owner has good intentions and respects this Iconic brand. After all, it has such a rich history why mess it up.

Cheers to ARC, now go forth my son and sell those big beautiful amps!
Woof! RJ

As an owner of the classic Ref 210, much as I love these behemoths, 8 KT120 tubes per channel put out too much heat and the fans are noisy. A year ago, I moved to start using highly efficient horns using a Klipsch La Scala. At a 105dB efficiency, all I need is one glorious watt. No more issues with heat. I love the sound of a good SET amp. No pentode in my long 30+ years experience with tubes comes close to the sound of a great SET amp. So, I’m definitely not going to buy any more ARC behemoths.

Here’s one of the SET amps I use with my La Scala. It’s so light I can lift it with one hand. Don’t try that with the Ref 210!

jbrrp1 · Jun 2, 2023

microstrip said:
10 to 15 people would never be able to design, manufacture and ship such line of products using hand soldered high quality boards and artisanal building methods. Aren't ARC people allowed to sleep and have holidays?

As a fellow manufacturing guy that's been in the current ARC facility within the last two years, I can definitely say that they have well over 25 folks working there. I saw at least that many people between office and shop easily, and there certainly are more, as I wasn't exactly on a census hunt. 50 people total doesn't seem too unrealistic to me.

picears · Jun 3, 2023

Nathanu said:
$1,088,818.18, free and clear of liens. ....it is very likely that the assets sold include all furniture, fixtures, tools, parts, inventory, and tradenames, patents, logos, and other intellectual property (which would include the name Audio Research).

Damn, less than the average price of a house in the coastal counties here in California. For the entire assets (less cash on hand?)

microstrip · Jun 3, 2023

picears said:
Damn, less than the average price of a house in the coastal counties here in California. For the entire assets (less cash on hand?)

But usually in such deals the buyer will have to invest a lot more in the nearby future ...

Fishfood · Jun 3, 2023

picears said:
Damn, less than the average price of a house in the coastal counties here in California. For the entire assets (less cash on hand?)

Well, isn't that number after paying off the debt, or maybe I'm not understanding correctly?

caesar · Jun 3, 2023

Gentlemen,
So what is the new strategy for the company? What will the new guy do differently?

caesar · Jun 3, 2023

Is the new owner the same guy that's been showing grainite or corian speakers?

can audio research even drive his speakers?

Gregadd · Jun 3, 2023

The company was not sold.The assets were liquidated.
At least that is what I understand.

KeithR · Jun 4, 2023

caesar said:
Is the new owner the same guy that's been showing grainite or corian speakers?

can audio research even drive his speakers?

He shows with VAC regularly.

picears · Jun 5, 2023

caesar said:
can audio research even drive his speakers?

The Acora speakers have been shown in with ARC gear. And Val claims to have owned much ARC.

Another Johnson · Jun 16, 2023

The latest news from Val Cora.

Likely New Owner of Audio Research Corp Says Company to Stay in Minn

The day after I ran an Audio Research post, I got a call from Valerio Cora of Acora Acoustics-the likely new owner of ARC. He had concerns

www.strata-gee.com

The article notes 23 employees. Much more manageable than 50, but not so much slack as to make an easy fix possible.

I wonder if MF is one of the anonymous partners.

Lee · Jun 17, 2023

Tracking Angle released a factory tour.

Pacha · Jun 17, 2023

Thanks for posting the video, I'm now much more hopeful in ARC's continued existence. For a customer who's owned much ARC gear from the early 70's to present it makes me happy.

Another Johnson · Jun 17, 2023

Looked like a pair of Sasha DAWs set up in Warren’s listening room.

Looked to me like there was a lot of wasted floor space.

MF appeared to be there after a lot of personnel had gone for the day.

I hope that second repair technician can be hired soon … and that tubes will be available again soon. That REF 6 under repair is a lesson for those who replace tubes only after they’ve failed.

Mr. Cora and his partners have to right the ship. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the strategy sessions.

Beloved marque. Second chance. I am hopeful.

jadis · Jun 18, 2023

Looking at the big size of the factory with do many divisions and departments, I can't picture how only 23 employees work there. And ARC has many models of amps and preamps it should take a lot more people to produce those units, day in and day out. Plus the logistics of moving parts and units around from one room to another for assembly and quality control. It is supposed to be a 'big' operation.

picears · Jun 18, 2023

jadis said:
only 23 employees

I watched some of the video when MF posted it. We can all try to deconstruct the video and collectively we could, probably, come up with some questions that will be awkward for ARC to answer.

Still, my belief is that the fundamentals of the market will drive whatever happens to ARC, Cora (and his secret partners) notwithstanding.

There's a lot of vendors out there, all over the world, hungry for business. Including many vendors producing tube gear, at a time when new tube production should not be taken as a given.

I have no ill will towards ARC or their fans, I just think the high-end business is a niche in which a good-ol-boy mentality exerts itself at its own peril.

Another Johnson · Jun 18, 2023

picears said:
I watched some of the video when MF posted it. We can all try to deconstruct the video and collectively we could, probably, come up with some questions that will be awkward for ARC to answer.

Still, my belief is that the fundamentals of the market will drive whatever happens to ARC, Cora (and his secret partners) notwithstanding.

There's a lot of vendors out there, all over the world, hungry for business. Including many vendors producing tube gear, at a time when new tube production should not be taken as a given.

I have no ill will towards ARC or their fans, I just think the high-end business is a niche in which a good-ol-boy mentality exerts itself at its own peril.

Conrad Johnson has less than five full timers.
On a “revenue per employee” basis, 23 makes sense for ARC. ARC does not have the sales volume of Denon, or even of McIntosh.

The problem for these high end companies is training (and then keeping) skilled workers. Wilson, as an example, is staffed by people from rural Utah who have a strong work ethic. They may commute from communities an hour away.

We see this in TN too. There are people with a strong work ethic who want to live in the community where they were born and raised, and so if they’re not in agriculture, they may commute to a city 80 miles away.

Maple Grove should be able to draw from both rural and metropolitan areas. But they don’t need a giant workforce to produce at their volume.

Gregadd · Jun 18, 2023

"Srong work ethic?" As an urban. We call it type A or work -aholic . We may tend ro change employment more often and better pay/benefits overall.
God bless the workers of Utah and TN

Lee · Jun 18, 2023

Another Johnson said:
Looked like a pair of Sasha DAWs set up in Warren’s listening room.

Looked to me like there was a lot of wasted floor space.

MF appeared to be there after a lot of personnel had gone for the day.

I hope that second repair technician can be hired soon … and that tubes will be available again soon. That REF 6 under repair is a lesson for those who replace tubes only after they’ve failed.

Mr. Cora and his partners have to right the ship. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in the strategy sessions.

Beloved marque. Second chance. I am hopeful.

The wasted floor space was due to them just moving in. Dave was talking a lot about how they were going to move departments around.

Another Johnson · Jun 18, 2023

Lee said:
The wasted floor space was due to them just moving in. Dave was talking a lot about how they were going to move departments around.

Yes, I took that into consideration. Since they were headed toward bankruptcy in the smaller space, I can’t help but wonder how they expect things to improve with more space.

I’ve been told that they rent their space, and that the rent is one of the unsecured debts. But I don’t know this.

I do know that there is a lot of heated and cooled space there that is under utilized.

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