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Offered is „Mastercontrol MMC“ by Reference 3A as second-hand device from the category „Compact Speaker“ on audio-markt.de - the online market place for high-end. The advert with the number 4700708504 ends on 28.10.2026 at 09:38 o'clock.
€2,800 looks fair to attractive for a clean pair of these, and if the stands or original hardware are included it starts to feel like a genuinely good buy rather than just market-true. Stereophile’s original pricing for the Royal Master Control was $4,200–$4,500/pair plus stands, which places this model in a serious performance tier and helps explain why well-kept examples still hold value.
The appeal is the classic Reference 3A balance: high sensitivity, easy amplifier matching, and a very coherent, natural midrange that makes vocals and small-scale acoustic music the draw here. At good condition, the main upside is getting a respected, long-lived design with a strong reputation for musicality; just confirm the drivers are original, the stands are included if advertised, and there’s no bass or tweeter fatigue from age.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Reference 3A is a long-running loudspeaker brand whose roots trace back to the late 1950s, when French audio designer Daniel Dehay founded 3A, short for “Applied Acoustic Arts.” In its modern form the company is based in Waterloo/Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and the Reference 3A name was added later as the line evolved.
The brand is known almost exclusively for loudspeakers, especially minimalist, high-sensitivity designs built around proprietary wideband and crossover-light driver concepts. Models such as the MM de Capo and larger floorstanders like the Grand Veena, Taksim, Nefes, and Reflector show that its focus is on passive speakers rather than amplifiers, DACs, headphones, or accessories.
In the market, Reference 3A sits in the niche high-end boutique category. It is not a mass-market brand; instead, it targets serious listeners who value natural tonality, dynamics, and an unfussy signal path, and its pricing and press coverage place it firmly in the premium audiophile segment. The brand has enough heritage to appeal to vintage-minded collectors, but its current identity is very much that of a specialist modern loudspeaker maker.
See all Reference 3A listings on RADAR.
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audio-markt.de
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