Audio Research is launching new products, "The Foundation Series"


I went to my local dealer today and found out that Audio Research will be launching new products, the LS28 preamp, the DAC 9, and the PH9. My dealer stated he believes the prices will be $7,500 a piece, but he stated don’t quote him on that. This stuff will be the replacement for my stuff, which is the Dac 8, and PH8. If this is so I will be getting the LS27 for as cheap as I can, I have the LS17se. I did some research on the internet and found the following : https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audio-research-introduces-foundation-series/
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/audio-research-announces-foundation-series#tSjeTU0bDcd4p4pu.97

Maybe they aren’t leaving us high and dry as I first thought and was led to believe, but if $7,500 will be the price it will still price some out, but it won’t be horrible as I was first led to believe, stay tuned on this one. This stuff looks like the Ref 6 stuff, but isn’t and I was told Audio Research is looking to do everything in this new look to stay uniform. The dealer stated he couldn’t tell me if and when the LS27 would be discontinued, but my guess and it’s only my guess is it probably will be.
sid1
Sid1, did you ever get the LS27, if so thoughts, I am thinking of doing the same
jtsnead - I purchased an LS27 about 2 years ago. I had it in a home demo up against my Ayer K-5XE mp. The LS27 crushed the Ayer in every way that mattered to me, it wasn't even close. But then the LS27 cost about twice what the Ayer did.
The bottom has dropped out of affordable products. Affordable no longer sells.

Go old school!   Buy used!

Can these new foundation products, beat the ARC older products like the LS 25, SP 14, SP 11 MK II, or Sp9 Mk III?

Not with rolled nos tubes.

New buyers have no history, with older, better, ARC products IMO.

They are suckers!

 
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I have owned ARC products from the SP5-SP7, to the current Ref 5SE preamplifier. The older products sound really great and offer a great value when found used. As far as rolling tubes with the older products it gives you what you want sonically. However they do not sound better than the newer production units. If that were true they wouldn't keep releasing new product. This is actually about being able to afford the newer gear.