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• Overview – Audio Research CL60 Tube Power Amplifier, released in 1998, is a pure Class AB tube power amplifier using vacuum-tube output stages, delivering refined harmonic richness, excellent control, and the signature Audio Research balance between power and musicality.
• Tube Power Design – Designed for demanding audiophile systems, it offers authoritative bass grip and expansive soundstaging, while preserving midrange liquidity and treble openness that tube enthusiasts value in reference two-channel setups.
• System Synergy – The Audio Research CL60 Tube Power Amplifier integrates seamlessly with both tube and solid-state preamplifiers, excelling with revealing loudspeakers and providing stable performance across varied impedance loads and musical genres.
• Specifications – Rated at 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms, uses 6550 output tubes, fully balanced topology, high-current power supply, wide bandwidth response, and substantial output transformers for low distortion and dynamic headroom.
• Dimensions – Approx. 483 mm (W) × 267 mm (H) × 432 mm (D), featuring Audio Research’s classic chassis design with ample ventilation for reliable tube operation and compatibility with standard hi-fi racks.
• Weight – Approximately 29 kg, reflecting heavy transformers, rugged internal construction, and extensive shielding essential for stable thermal performance and long-term reliability in high-power tube amplification.
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Audio Research Corporation, founded in 1970 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by William Z. Johnson, traces its roots to his pioneering work in custom audio electronics during the 1950s and his operation of a specialty retail store through the mid-1960s. After a brief stint selling his designs to a larger firm, Johnson regained independence to establish ARC with a singular mission: advancing the state-of-the-art in music reproduction. From modest beginnings in the back of his shop, the company evolved into one of America's oldest continuously operating high-end audio manufacturers, now housed in a state-of-the-art 48,000-square-foot facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
ARC specializes in performance-driven electronics, renowned for vacuum-tube amplifiers, preamplifiers, and electronic crossovers that emphasize sonic purity over flashy features or aesthetics. Drawing on circuit designs rooted in the 1950s, the brand integrates tubes into modern contexts, delivering what it calls "high definition" sound through genuine technological advances. While not venturing into speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables, ARC's focused lineup prioritizes amplifiers and preamps that set benchmarks for musical realism.
Positioned at the pinnacle of high-end audio, Audio Research is hailed as a true originator of the genre, commanding respect among audiophiles for its unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. Enduring the 1970s tube revival against solid-state dominance, ARC thrives via elite specialist retailers worldwide, standing alongside peers like Conrad-Johnson as a vintage-inspired yet forward-thinking force in the niche boutique market.
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