Description
What it is: Tube preamp
Manufacturer: Self-built
Features: Tube with remote control
Specifications
| Amplification type | valve |
|---|
About the brand
Audio Research Corporation, commonly known as ARC, was founded in 1970 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by William Z. Johnson. Before that, Johnson had a small workshop where he modified Dynaco equipment and built his own electronics. In the midst of the transistor era, he chose the path oppoHe redefined and put the tube back at the heart of amplification: this is largely why his name appears among the pioneers of high-end American hi-fi. Johnson remained the company's leading designer for over forty years and passed away in December 2011.
The first product was the tube power amplifier Dual 50, presented at a trade show in 1970. A few years later came the SP-3 preamplifier, which The Absolute Sound magazine considers perhaps the most important debut in the entire history of high-end, joined by the D-75 and D-76 power amplifiers. In the early 1980s, the SP-10 preamplifier, with fifteen tubes and an external power supply, set a new benchmark for the category. The acronym Reference subsequently referred to the company's flagship models.
Ownership has also changed several times. In 2008, Johnson sold the company to Fine Sounds, the group that previously owned Sonus faber and which later took the name McIntosh Group; in 2020, Audio Research was acquired by Trent Suggs' TWS Enterprises, and in 2023 by AR Tube Audio Corporation. Since 2018, the headquarters have been in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The brand is still active: in 2025, for its 55th anniversary, it unveiled six new units handcrafted in Minnesota. However, our website only offers used models.
Da Audiocostruzioni We offer used and vintage Audio Research gear: the ones available are on this page and can be seen and heard in our Carpi showroom or ordered online with shipping. For any questions, please email us.
FAQ
This product is in the Archive section and is no longer available for sale. Visit our catalog to discover current models or contact us for personalized advice on a similar product.
When a model goes out of production, is sold permanently, or is no longer available from our suppliers, we move it to the Archive section. We maintain the page online for informational purposes: users and collectors can continue to consult specifications, descriptions, and reference images.
Probably. Visit our product catalog to discover equivalent models currently on sale: you can filter by category, brand, and price range to find the best alternative for your system.
We do not carry used or vintage products. To discover currently available alternatives, click the "Go to catalog" button at the top right of the page, or go directly to our product catalog to browse the models for sale.
We do not directly handle technical assistance or spare parts. On our support page , you'll find tables with direct contact information for service centers and specialized repairers: you can contact them directly to discuss repairs or spare parts availability.
