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Audio Research D120 amplifier in excellent conditionMinty. Minor chips on case.SpecificationsPower output: 120 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)Frequency response: 0.6Hz to 150kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.004%Damping factor: 300Design Features: Utilizes hand-built analog modules, exact-matched output devices, and an 80 to 180 joule energy storage power supply. [1, 2]Sonic Signature: Reviewers and audiophile community members praise the D-120 for delivering the classic Audio Research transparency, precise tonal balance, clean Class AB control, and wide soundstage authorityShipping to states in longitude of Colorado, farther west or rural parts of the Midwest will be a little more, billed separately
At US$875, this is a strong deal: it sits well below the supplied US$1,086 25th-percentile comparable and is roughly one-third below the US$1,297 median. Assuming it is complete and functional, the price looks like genuine bargain territory rather than merely fair.
The D-120 is a well-regarded early Audio Research solid-state design, offering 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms, substantial current capability, and the brand’s characteristically robust construction. Its age is the only meaningful qualifier: ask for a powered-up demonstration, clean channel balance, quiet operation, and any service history. Vintage units can need attention to aging capacitors, connectors, or power-supply parts, but at this price there is room for sensible servicing—especially if the cosmetics, serial information, and original rack handles or documentation are intact.
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.
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