Audio Research Sold To Owners Of Sonus Faber

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Amp_Nut
Inventar

#1 erstellt: 01. Feb 2008, 20:23

From the Stereophile site :

Audio Research Acquired by Quadrivio
By Wes Phillips
January 30, 2008 — Audio Research, one of the companies that created the Silver Age of American high-end audio 38 years ago, was acquired by Italian private equity firm Quadrivio SGR on January 25. Quadrivio, which acquired Sonus Faber in 2007, intends to keep Audio Research's current management team in place.

Audio Research founder and President William Z. Johnson will continue with the firm as honorary chairman, but will step aside from day-to-day operations. Terry Dorn will be President, Gerald Oxborough will become CFO, Ralph Fetter will continue as managing director of manufacturing, David Gordon will serve as managing drector of sales, and Ward Fiebiger will be managing director of engineering, as well as supervisor of product design.

"This is a fabulous fit for us," said Dave Gordon. "Quadrivio has proven with Sonus Faber that they get what high-end audio is all about—and they get Audio Research. They wanted us because of what we do, so they want us to continue doing it. The only changes you're going to see are new products as we introduce them."

One of the worst-kept secrets in high-end audio over the last few years was that Audio Research might be on the block, "to the right owner and for the right price," which many industry insiders interpreted as "William Z. Johnson kinda does and kinda doesn't want to do it." Coming off of the two best years in the company's history, it was obviously the right time—and Quadrivio, by all reports, seems to be the right buyer.

Incidentally AR products are sold officially in India by A2V

[Beitrag von Amp_Nut am 01. Feb 2008, 20:25 bearbeitet]

bhagwan69
Inventar

#2 erstellt: 02. Feb 2008, 07:16

You are well informed - I see. Good.

Keep a keen eye on A2V's moves.
I was not sure if our forum members would know just as yet. The deal was done @ CES 2008.
So now we will get to see, touch, hear AR products @ Juhu & Empire. Good.
I personally love their pre amplifier [Ref Pre] & their CD Player [CD7].
Innovative Audio [coca cola] was 'supposed' to be representing AR but I never saw any stock with him.
One way it is nice that A 2 V is now doing it.

Prithvi
Stammgast

#3 erstellt: 02. Feb 2008, 07:39

Thank god AR is not with Coca Cola, otherwise it would have been Cola research

Its gone to the right guys who will do justice to Ar. One of my fav brands.

Arj
Inventar

#4 erstellt: 02. Feb 2008, 07:50

It is a mixed feeling kind of news.. Nice to know that AR has a nice backing fro a sound organisation into the HI Fi Business.

But hope they are able to "Accoustically Isolate" the two companies. Else we are going to end up with a sure sweetening of the sound of the AR to make it more friendly with the new generation of the SFs... and that may be good news for Manley labs and VTL

bhagwan69
Inventar

#5 erstellt: 02. Feb 2008, 08:20

Prithvi schrieb:

Thank god AR is not with Coca Cola, otherwise it would have been Cola research :D

Nice one Sir !!!

bhagwan69
Inventar

#6 erstellt: 02. Feb 2008, 08:25

Arj schrieb:

But hope they are able to "Accoustically Isolate" the two companies.

Well, the change is already apparent;
SF is making a concious effort to move 'down market'
Their emphasis is to make 'cheaper' and more 'affordable' hi-fi products.
Franco has left - was asked to leave - SF & has started his own new brand under his name. The SF work will carry on there.

AR will also go down stream. Make budget level products to do the numbers game. Show Top Line Growth & that way the 'new' owners can sell the company to some one else @ higher price. Harmon etc.

Interesting times ahead.

Sure, Cary + VTL + VAC + Manley etc. stand to gain from this for sure. !!!!

ani
Stammgast

#7 erstellt: 02. Feb 2008, 08:41

Looks like hi-end audio will further shrink into few specialized small concerns. If any such company moves into lime light they may get taken over by venture capitalist, converted into mass market product mfr and then sold to big name holders.

One good point is that the designer promoter of the company gets richer and he moves on with his work independently. We can hope to see better products from them in future

bombaywalla
Stammgast

#8 erstellt: 05. Feb 2008, 21:42

ani schrieb:

that certainly seems to be the trend, doesn't it???

becoming harder & harder to get any decent hi-end brand that actually services the music.

ani schrieb:

One good point is that the designer promoter of the company gets richer and he moves on with his work independently. We can hope to see better products from them in future :)

in the case of Franco of SF it might be the case but in the case of Bill Z. Johnson it might not be. He might be "done" with audio!