RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
This is a seller’s market in the sense that the asking price is wildly above the normal used range: with a median of £1,428 and a 75th percentile of £3,151, £16,495 is not just ambitious, it’s in a completely different bracket. Even allowing for top-tier Audio Research status, this is far beyond what recent comparable UK listings have been asking.
What keeps it interesting is that the Reference 160S is a genuinely well-regarded 140W tube power amp with real high-end cachet, and 143.4 hours plus “ex condition” suggests barely broken in. If the provenance is solid, it could suit a buyer chasing a near-new, dealer-backed example with low use — but at this price, the buyer should expect immaculate presentation, full accessories, and ideally some kind of transferrable support or warranty.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
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.
See all Audio Research listings on RADAR.
