Audio Research Factory Tour

[@davidgee7150]

As a young man hanging around audio dealers more than 40 years ago, I was told by the owner, if you have the money buy ARC. Even if you never buy another piece of audio gear in the future, you will never be unsatisfied with it. So when had enough money, I bought ARC. I run ARC reference now. Thank you.

[@DjJugend]

Would you say it's better than Mcintosh? And how does the price compare between the two? Same price or one more expensive than the other

[@davidgee7150]

@@DjJugend It’s the transformers, Macintosh was the old style transformers. Not dynamic enough and doesn’t have the headroom for more difficult loads. Music is more dynamic and sounds to me more realistic with ARC….It’s been so long, I’m not current with today’s prices.

[@dustincollman9231]

As an owner an ARC amplifier I am very excited that things are alive and well at ARC. Thank you for doing this tour.

[@wwoolworth]

Audio Research is an icon in American audio. Growing pains are a necessity but I would put money that their equipment is far better than most anything on the market today.

[@TheDanEdwards]

"Growing pains are a necessity" - what they've gone through recently are not _growing pains_ . Instead it seems to be simply poor (financial) management of an established company.

[@edd2771]

You are incorrect on the quality of their equipment over the past few years, and if there are still growing pains since 1970 something has gone awry.

[@trackingangle929]

@@TheDanEdwards many factors produced the problem including the recent banking crisis that was beyond their control

[@daviddrake6875]

@@trackingangle929Yes the responsibility of the Central Bank called the Fed that we never should have had, and Joe Biden criminal now shown destroying a former robust economy. Beware of the new CBDC( the last two show where the power is) Rant over.

[@alexkane84]

Excuses

[@Jack96993]

I bought my ARC LS15 tube pre amp back in 1995 and still use it to this day without and issue What a great American company!! Please keep going strong

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for the tour! The KZbin algorithm is at work, I just did a video on the Reference 600's, ( at 12:24 ) Very HEAVY amplifiers, and built very well. Seems like a nice group of people, nice to see now a days.

[@tonyharrison2542]

Thank goodness this great American Company has survived! So impressive and Michael thank you for shooting this wonderful segment and making it available to us.

[@michaelchase1911]

This soon to be Canadian company is barley alive ...

[@tonyharrison2542]

Just a thought. Let's circle back in a year and see if the company is , as you describe it, "barley alive".

[@peterlarkin762]

45:25 Wooops! Great video, I really enjoy factory tours. Very glad ARC wasnt dissolved. Long may they live!

[@hvg3488]

Brilliant idea from Mr Fremer: SP11 back in production, old look outside all new tech inside... make it an Limited Edition and it wil sell like hotcakes. Feels so good to see Audio Research Corporation back on track! Good People, great gear, superb sound!

[@jeffreythurston1822]

What a great behind the scenes look of an iconic American company. I’m glad they have their finances figured out and can keep at it. Thanks for sharing that.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

Like many British iconic firms, it is living in the past. I don't see any 21st century production technology or even any 21st century audio technology. Sound is now transmitted digitally. You don't need super expensive capacitors.

[@daviddrake6875]

What year Klipschorn was that?

[@Elberoth]

ARC is one of the best hi-end audio companies in the world.

[@treadmillrepair754]

ARC is one of the best audio company in the world. I have 30 years fixing ARC gear. One of my favorites is the Reference 10 Preamplifier.

[@skip1835]

Thanks Michael, good to know those guys are getting back up to speed - - enjoy my ARC gear most every day.

[@jeffkalina7727]

That is "Commissioner Gordon" to mere mortals. I did this same tour two years ago. Impressive amount of testing goes into their products before they are shipped. Glad the ownership stayed in North America. Go Commish!

[@ptg01]

Waaaay COOOL ! So happy they are still an ongoing concern ! AR is Audio History !

[@endrizo]

AR is acoustic research

[@AE-yx2qg]

I was perusing KZbin to see if anyone had videos on the SP6 while waiting for it to come back from repair at ARC. Saw your your video and thought, cool, a tour.... And there is my preamp sitting on the shelf and even got a mention!

[@JesusRodriguezAcosta]

I'm thinking about recap my "humble yet feisty" SP-9 MKII (or upgrading it to MKIII, but ARC hasn't provided support for a while). I bought it second-hand more than 20 years ago. I won't deny it, sometimes I've thought about changing it, because it has some minor problems, it's many years of battle, but it sounds so so so beautiful. Thank you for the video, it's nice to know all the work and experience that goes behind these devices.

[@donnanderson4362]

Wowser! I'm very impressed with the changes that have been made to the facility since I left. Very nice!

[@floydlaza8751]

Build quality is awesome always had confidence and faith in USA brands from vintage eara - not everything equates to financial success in its time much like artist success thanks for the video and exposure

[@randylev]

All those pretty internal components. Incredible stuff to see!!!

[@LarryBlowers]

I love that they have a pair of corner horns in there shop, there amps can make them sing!

[@EduardoCruz-ur4wq]

Nice tour, I have already repair and recap many AR vintage stuff, and is very interessant to see where they came and the people who made them. Thanks.

[@papabear1417]

This is what you do best. Thank you.

[@maurice4407]

Great video, great company especially that they stand behind all their products. That’s the same reason why I love my Mcintosh. Would love to try and listen to audio research in the future.

[@roryjones6483]

Wow! Looks way different! Gosh, I miss that place.

[@freeradical6390]

Great tour vid! So much work goes on behind the scenes that most people take for granted.

[@AlanSenzaki]

I had a Classic 60 Amp and a SP13 integrated preamp. and a Oracle Delphi Mk3. and Vandersteen 2ci’s… great jazz system!

[@raoulduke1914]

Love my old LS7 still going strong and dont feel any need to upgrade

[@zmix]

15:44 I'd like to know more about the Audio Research Mixing Console..!

[@upeliuk]

@15:40 , He was mentioning some history. It would've been nice if he was allowed to finish.. Great video done.

[@ramsaybolton9099]

Great Video.

[@freepress8451]

Channel just randomly appeared, is that Michael Fremer of Analog Planets voice I hear?!! Its been well over a year since I have watched his content - great stuff.

[@trackingangle929]

Yes. I’ve left that site and started TrackingAngle.com. Check it out and subscribe here and there! Thank you.

[@TheRjjrjjr]

Crazy Cool!

[@minsleyskidoo6327]

This is the perfect cure for insomnia.

[@trackingangle929]

So is your comment. A big snooze.

[@MrBonger88]

Great stuff, thank you. Can you tell us what else you put in your pockets? Just kidding. Honestly, I was laughing so hard when you said that. Thanks again

[@pizzaearthpancakesandother2549]

The people who don't like "records more new records" can POUND SAND or KICK ROCKS! They get to choose! It is ICONIC They say that high-end audio is primarily a hobby for old white guys, and I LOVE how the AR factory, (on this tour at least) was old white guys! Magical!

[@joeambly6807]

Thats exactly why yourhobby wiul die tho.

[@jdekong3945]

all the best to ARC

[@analoguecity3454]

Art Dudley was such an intelligent man!😊

[@tommybbz943]

For next visit to the MARANTZ amplifier factory .

[@lui8104]

what a huge world behind an amplifier! Awesome

[@fabiandeka4221]

❤ I still Have my SP10 mk2 and I will never sell for any reason in the world.

[@BoudewijnvanHouten]

Can you still order faceplates for older equipment?

[@pooyahesabi]

Of course, they have financial issue when their prices not fair and astronomically expensive. Not just them mcintosh and all other brands as well. thanks for the video.

[@trackingangle929]

Your financial analysis based upon pure conjecture is 100% incorrect. Thank you for the comment.

[@pooyahesabi]

​@@trackingangle929 Person to person is different, I'm a huge fan of high quality products also I'm a designer and DIY guy but you are wathching from another side. 150K, 200K dollar ... for an amplifier or whatever is 100% unfair. on mass production from designing till the end a product like this is not worth more than 10K. Thanks for reply.

[@davidnguyen5028]

Where does ARC get their tubes from?

[@timbre7999]

Mike, I´ll never tire of "Rekkerds, more new Rekkerds" :) :)

[@scottbennett3119]

My wife and I love your signature "Records, more new records" opening. That opeing and your sense of humor made my wife actually enjoy hearing about audio stuff. An astonishing achievement. Please bring back the original opening! Thank you.

[@daviddrake6875]

I have an SP-3A and a Stereo 70 modified earlier in the life of Audio Research. It was interesting to see the new ongoing and future. Just curious. Do you have Audio Research components personally?

[@trackingangle929]

No, but I’ve favorably reviewed many

[@deancacioppo7170]

Nice!

[@tictocbang7443]

Where are the women? I've toured many successful companies in the watch industry, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile and knife companies. The contribution of women in these companies cannot be overstated. Never seen such a low energy tour.

[@АлександрПопов-и8з2м]

Amplifier on GU-48?

[@neverknowit11]

American made “kudos”. Are you finding American made Electrolytic’s too?

[@67Pepper]

Leave your intro in Michael. It's funny. I still have a Classic 60 amp, good little amp.

[@DingleBerry88]

Just wanna throw out there that I’m on the “keep the into” team.

[@buddyhume9297]

Please keep the intro!

[@kentonkirkpatrick5225]

What? No statue of Lenard?

[@sundaru1]

Amazing history of audio excellence, sad to know how AR had to compete with small , cheap yet more advance sound measurable quality instead of brand image and verbal description of sound like old fashion audio magazine did in the past

[@trackingangle929]

You are living in the past.

[@twocentman]

​@@trackingangle929No ...you

[@rongreen1538]

I wonder where they source tubes from?, they must buy hundreds.

[@michaeltrochalakis6526]

Most of the power tubes in the video were in Tung-Sol boxes.

[@rongreen1538]

@@michaeltrochalakis6526 So they were, thanks for spotting it.

[@SuperMcgenius]

I like the more records opening😂

[@jeanpoirier9534]

Listened with an Audio Research D-400

[@ptg01]

"Buried all the bodies" !!!! HA3 !! (psst... it's called CONCRETE)

[@mwalczak5603]

Where are the people?

[@yurykorol8715]

Why are the computers you use not on tubes?

[@trackingangle929]

For the same reason most guitar amps don’t use transistors. My system is almost exclusively solid state. So?

[@yurykorol8715]

@@trackingangle929 No offense, it was a joke!

[@trackingangle929]

@@yurykorol8715 oh! irony doesn't travel well on "the Internets"!

[@yurykorol8715]

@@trackingangle929 The Russians have a saying - man does not live by bread alone.

[@andreacosta74]

AR you need a tube Headphone amp and a TRULY HIGH DEFINITION tube DAC!

[@ChronicTom23]

I personally love your intro...and I usually hate intros...no need to remove it

[@SamWesting]

Don’t believe the hype about ARC providing indefinite support for all their product. The circuit board on my D-115 power amp corroded & ARC was unable to supply a replacement. So that has become a door stop. But at least my SP-11 preamp still works.

[@trackingangle929]

I'm sure they tried....

[@goodwinaj22]

They need to fix their 5 month backlog for service/repair.

[@floydlaza8751]

I should also add controversially that if u compare that workshop to the one u visited in sweden - absolutely no comparison in organisation - fly like an 🦅

[@trackingangle929]

You mean Switzerland! Consider that ARC just added a big addition and is in the process of moving things around…

[@jkim4712]

Seems many people works. But so little people actuality making product. Maybe production efficiency is low. That could make them another financial problem.

[@trackingangle929]

The work shift was over for the day. Everyone was home.

[@endrizo]

30:28

[@itsonlyme9938]

"Interesting comment things are throw away today" but if it well made its worth fixing. Hope they find a tech who can work on tube gear.

[@adrieltzu3565]

The thing I never understood is how you can charge the kinds of prices High end audio companies do and still be in danger of the business failing. It seems like either you're charging too much or have sloppy business practices. One monumentally stupid move in my opinion is when AR changed those beautiful oval shaped knobs on their earlier models to round black. The present ones are frankly unattractive. Visual esthetics matters also. Just my opinion, no offense intended.

[@neverknowit11]

Comments using interstate transformers in amplifier design will be valuable information.

[@davidbryanbartlett4071]

Should have edited Phone call

[@trackingangle929]

You are the first and only one to think that. But thanks for the feedback

[@philstevens9914]

A bit pathetic they wouldn't let you see development. It's not like someone will copy it based on the tiny part you would see. I have a lot of heavy Reference series equipment I am getting ready to liquidate. I don't any longer feel this heavy electrical consumption equipment if the way forward. also, ARC is owned by the same owner of McIntosh. ARC seems to be lagging behind and McIntosh seems to be forging ahead on a global basis.

[@stackoverflow8260]

A company that uses tubes has a trademark for "High Definition." What an oxymoron 😅

[@trackingangle929]

You really haven’t a clue

[@stackoverflow8260]

@trackingangle929 model 100.2 amp that uses MOSFETS? If they call that hiss and hum fest "High Definition," then that's nothing to brag about, too! 😆

[@trackingangle929]

@@stackoverflow8260 I'm not sure you fully grasp their use of the term

[@AN-ce1nd]

They will be out of business tops 2 years. AR is a relic of the past. Too expensive, bland, power hungry etc. Class D is the deal. McIntosh blows them away in sales. They are like Radio Shack

[@DC-xx4kv]

Michael, are you, in the closet?! Come on out! 🎉😂

[@kevinc917]

Sometimes I wonder. My uncle is this way and straight as an arrow and from what I’ve heard quite the ladies man. Get in where you fit in. Too short getting it on vinyl

[@WoodyONeal]

Looks like a lot of square footage for not a lot going on.

[@trackingangle929]

Am I your fantasy date?

[@trackingangle929]

@@kevinc917 your uncle is what way?

[@trackingangle929]

@@WoodyONeal they just expanded and haven’t yet re-allocated the space.