Mcintosh Group sells Audio Research
 

https://www.analogplanet.com/content...nterprises-llc

In my mind it makes sense. Business wise they know better.

All depends on what he is paying for it. I wish Trent and the company the best of luck for long term prosperity.

This is a great move for ARC. The Mac guys never really understood what made ARC special. Trent does and is committed to ARC only.

More importantly, with the advent of the new car audio contracts for Mac and Sf, the group has bigger fish to fry. It's a great move for all involved.

My thoughts exactly!

Far more important is the plan/funding to take the company where it needs to go from here.

I'm not familiar with Trent Suggs....was he a former member of the Audio Research team?

- Buck

Yes. First sold Audio Research at Sumiko/Fine Sounds and later as Director of North American Sales at ARC. Most of the key people at ARC know and have worked with Trent.

So he has the capital support to buy and get ARC to where he wants to take it. Cool!

Good to hear. I always felt that ARC was, in many ways, the opposite of Mac---- less bling, more attention to the finer aspects of sound reproduction.
Based upon the sale, it would seem that ARC may be losing one important guy, however---Livio Cucuzza who designed the Galileo series which led to the Ref 160 amps. The new ARC look is, to me, an elegant update of the prior "science project" look. Of course, the Ref 160 monos sound spectacular.

The changes made at AR since joining the McIntosh group have been invariably positive. They have stagnated digitally but their amplifiers and preamplifiers are top notch.
I do have concern they will prove vulnerable if their R&D slows down. They really need to focus on digital products.

Mike S.