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Critic's Corner Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry. |
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Critic's Corner Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry. |
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In Reply to: "A Rumination Upon Audio Research, VW's Phæton, and Subaru vs. SAAB" posted by John Marks on May 23, 2023 at 14:08:45:
So you wrote a piece on the Positive Feedback site and you felt the need (with the Mod's approval) to cross-promote it here on this site. That in itself speaks volumes. You want to be heard.
I agree with Doug Schneider that you are pulling conclusions out of your tuchus.
The latest line of Ref series amps, the S and M's (there might be a joke there) have features that the consumers wanted and that WZJ, were he alive, would have spit upon even as mere notions let alone fully realized; 1) Autobias, 2) relays for powering up to prevent tube rush 3) switchable pentode and triode mode. As mentioned by Doug, the casework is borrowed from the Galileo series-the previous thin metal base with a thin metal top secured by 30 or so tiny set screws was replaced by a much more solid and sturdily built base upon which the top cover slides on with far fewer screws to secure it in place. The present series of Ref S and M amps are simply more solid and rigid in terms of case construction. My point being-this is what consumers likely wanted-not what ARC necessarily wanted. ARC historically never devoted that much time or money on casework and that still for the most part holds true.
Across the spectrum of reviewers there were nothing but glowing reviews of the Ref 6 and now 6 SE preamps (the Ref 10 has been legend for some time) and the latest series of Ref amps received nothing but great reviews as well, most notably the 160M amps reviewed by S'Phile.
You wrote;
"I don't think that can be done for tubes, but I think that a great 60Wpc tube amp should cost less than $20,000 or $22,000 (I have seen both prices quoted)"
No doubt you will hedge with your definition of "great" but the ARC Ref 80S has an MSRP of $16,000 and features the very expensive Tung Sol KT150.
So why did ARC fail to be profitable? You don't know and I don't know and few outside of the inner circle do. But my two cents is that the cost of production, economies of scale, betting the farm on the KT150, and some bad decisions as to dealer relationships all played a role.
When highly respected companies with legendary products get sold, bad things happen. Look at the fates of Mark Levinson, Krell, Thiel, and countless others.
Your analogizing to cars is bizarre in general. Why did Saturn fail? Why did GM and Chrysler have to file for BR? Why is Chrysler now selling every Jeep Wrangler it can push off the production line? (my answer, fwiw, is that the public are largely lemmings and hypnotized by popular culture). Your reference in public to lesbians buying Suburus had me wondering if this was in fact the same John Marks that wrote for Stereophile until I remembered some equally bizarre comments you made that somehow passed Atkinson's editing at that publication (such as that a certain POTUS, the son of another POTUS, got a bad rap and would be remembered lovingly in history's rearview mirror).
You're an odd duck John Marks. I kind of like you based on what little I know of you. But I like odd ducks. Your post and article are sheer rubbish though. A man on a soap box indeed.
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Follow Ups
- RE: "A Rumination Upon Audio Research, VW's Phæton, and Subaru vs. SAAB" - FSonicSmith 10:22:32 06/26/23 (1)
- NOT lovingly! IIRC, I said respectfully. - John Marks 15:05:49 06/26/23 (0)
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