RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Would you pay £261 for this, or does the lack of condition detail make you pause? It’s hard to call this a clean buy at that asking price: the best comp here is a dealer listing at about £225, while another market sighting is £100, so £261 is above the current used norm unless this one is unusually original or exceptionally complete.
If the model is indeed the AR A-07 integrated amp, it’s a properly old-school piece with vintage AR cachet and the sort of straightforward, musical presentation that still attracts enthusiasts. That makes it worth considering, especially if it’s been serviced and comes with remote or paperwork, but at £261 I’d want proof of recent maintenance and clean operation before calling it an easy win.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Acoustic Research (AR) emerged from Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1954, founded by audio pioneer Edgar Villchur and his student Henry Kloss. Villchur, an inventor, researcher, and educator, developed the groundbreaking acoustic suspension loudspeaker principle, patented in 1956, which enabled compact speakers with deep, distortion-free bass. Their debut AR-1 model, unveiled at the 1954 New York Audio Show for $185, revolutionized the industry by shrinking enclosure sizes by up to 75 percent while delivering superior performance, setting the stage for AR's rapid ascent.
The brand focused primarily on loudspeakers, pioneering acoustic suspension designs like the AR-1, AR-2, AR-3 series, and compact bookshelf models such as the AR-4, which appealed to students and families. AR expanded into turntables, including the enduring AR Turntable still prized by vinyl enthusiasts, alongside other stereo components. This emphasis on innovative speakers with flat response, wide dispersion, and extended bass defined their catalog, prioritizing engineering over aesthetics.
AR commanded peak dominance in 1966 with over 32 percent of the U.S. loudspeaker market—the largest share any hi-fi company has achieved—earning reverence for natural sound reproduction and robust build quality. Now owned by VOXX and shifted toward lower-end accessories, its vintage products remain collector icons, embodying mid-century high-fidelity excellence for discerning buyers seeking timeless accuracy.
See all Acoustic Research listings on RADAR.
