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  #11  
Old 02-01-2021, 04:23 PM
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Antonmb Antonmb is online now
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Originally Posted by cleeds View Post
That's very likely mistaken. Most large companies run their subsidiaries using the profit center concept. If anything, separating from Mac may offer some lower costs, e.g. ARC won't have to spend $$$ on a fancy Italian designer, fancy casework and custom knobs.



Also subsidiary companies pay management fees to the parent for any services provided by the parent, such as engineering, payroll, accounting, etc., and of course have to pay dividends to the parent using their cash.
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  #12  
Old 02-01-2021, 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by cleeds View Post
That's very likely mistaken. Most large companies run their subsidiaries using the profit center concept. If anything, separating from Mac may offer some lower costs, e.g. ARC won't have to spend $$$ on a fancy Italian designer, fancy casework and custom knobs.

ARC operated as an independent company for decades, so it seems to me that the template for its success is pretty well established.

I've owned ARC gear for more than 40 years. It's true that it's always been expensive, but it seems to me the company has always offered excellent value.
Probably why Fine Sound Group (later McIntosh Group) was able to acquire them for a song in 2008. Hopefully, TWS Enterprises will be more successful with them.
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  #13  
Old 02-01-2021, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by jayvis1 View Post
Probably why Fine Sound Group (later McIntosh Group) was able to acquire them for a song in 2008. Hopefully, TWS Enterprises will be more successful with them.
You really have no idea about ARC or their history do you?
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  #14  
Old 02-01-2021, 05:07 PM
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You really have no idea about ARC or their history do you?
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Old 02-01-2021, 05:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cleeds View Post
That's very likely mistaken. Most large companies run their subsidiaries using the profit center concept. If anything, separating from Mac may offer some lower costs, e.g. ARC won't have to spend $$$ on a fancy Italian designer, fancy casework and custom knobs.

ARC operated as an independent company for decades, so it seems to me that the template for its success is pretty well established.

I've owned ARC gear for more than 40 years. It's true that it's always been expensive, but it seems to me the company has always offered excellent value.
If they don't continue with the "fancy design, fancy casework and custom knobs" they will be left in the dust going forward.
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  #16  
Old 02-01-2021, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Still-One View Post
If they don't continue with the "fancy design, fancy casework and custom knobs" they will be left in the dust going forward.
Exactly! ARC started to slowly venture away from their ham radio like industrial design, but didn't go far enough to sway enough of today's high end buyers. If you're going to charge luxury prices, you better attract and satisfy the luxury buyers who don't base their buying decision on technical and engineering excellence only. They want the full package.
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  #17  
Old 02-01-2021, 06:15 PM
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I actually liked their older industrial designs better (e.g., the Reference 75SE).

Last edited by GSOphile; 02-01-2021 at 06:20 PM.
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  #18  
Old 02-01-2021, 06:18 PM
jpgr4blu jpgr4blu is offline
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As long as ARC continues on its current path with the superb sounding new Reference amps that can now be placed in a living room setting because they no longer look like college science projects--I am optimistic, especially with ownership in the hands of a former ARC insider who knows what the public wants and what the market will bear. The only thing we do not know is how much debt was taken on and how that debt load will impact the engineering crew, parts quality, etc. If past is prologue, we can only hope that there will be no negative impact.
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  #19  
Old 02-01-2021, 07:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpgr4blu View Post
As long as ARC continues on its current path with the superb sounding new Reference amps that can now be placed in a living room setting because they no longer look like college science projects--I am optimistic, especially with ownership in the hands of a former ARC insider who knows what the public wants and what the market will bear. The only thing we do not know is how much debt was taken on and how that debt load will impact the engineering crew, parts quality, etc. If past is prologue, we can only hope that there will be no negative impact.
I agree that the new Reference 160M and 160S amps with the ghost meters are a major step in the right direction. But remember that those designs were concocted under the McIntosh Group umbrella and not under the direction of the former ARC insider. If they can do the same to the rest of the line without driving prices farther through the roof, they'll really have something. I also hope to see some solid state offerings in the near future with similar aesthetics.
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  #20  
Old 02-01-2021, 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by metaphacts View Post
COVID really did not cost them orders per se. Deliveries were limited early-mid year by mandated closures but demand for ARC products continued to build, not fall.

ARC is under new ownership. Great things (imo) are coming. The REF80s has already been released. Stay tuned for the next wave. It's a great time to be an ARC fan,
Oh really: where are the numbers?
I saw a video where new CEO was saying when Mcintosh people asked him to come he thought he would be offered some position?? but they gave him the company. he seemed like nice guy.
when I asked about ref6 upgrade, they said it was currently stopped(later2020) and suggested i could trade in for 6SE.
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