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• System Overview – The Audio Research LS3B Preamplifier and D120 Stereo Amplifier, released in the early 1990s, form a solid-state Class AB pairing known for exceptional transparency, dynamic authority, and the classic Audio Research house sound with precise tonal balance.
• High-Resolution Line Stage – The LS3B uses a fully balanced, low-noise circuit with wide bandwidth and premium discrete components, delivering excellent detail retrieval, stable imaging, and superior channel separation for accurate two-channel reproduction.
• Powerful Class AB Amplification – The Audio Research D120 Stereo Amplifier provides 120W per channel of clean, controlled Class AB power with high-current capability, enabling confident drive of demanding loudspeakers while maintaining composure and refinement.
• Exceptional System Synergy – Together, the Audio Research LS3B Preamplifier and D120 Stereo Amplifier offer fast transients, low distortion, and highly coherent musical flow, making the combination ideal for revealing loudspeaker systems in dedicated listening rooms.
• Dimensions – LS3B: approx. 480 mm (W) × 130 mm (H) × 330 mm (D). D120: approx. 480 mm (W) × 180 mm (H) × 430 mm (D). Designed to fit standard Audio Research rack spacing.
• Weight – LS3B: approx. 7 kg. D120: approx. 27 kg. The amplifier’s heavy transformer and robust chassis provide excellent mechanical damping for stable long-term performance.
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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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