I have been a big Audio Research fan for over 40 years. I found their recent facelift to a more stylish and modern aesthetic a welcome change from their "laboratory" look. In a recent review of the ARC Reference CD9 SE CD player, the writer commented that despite a fine sounding CD player, the "finish lacks sophistication." Although the sound is by far the most important quality we strive for as audiophiles, the aesthetic and fit+finish play an important role for the prospective buyer especially at these high end price points.
I hope that going forward, in this new era, Audio Research is able to maintain a high level of finish to go along with their superb sound.
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