Audio Research Reference 80S
- Condition
- Good
- Location
- DE
- Source
- audio-markt.de
- Posted
- 4 May 2026
- Last seen
- 2d ago
RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Angeboten wird „Reference 80S“ von Audio Research als Gebrauchtgerät aus der Kategorie „Röhren-Endverstärker“ bei audio-markt.de - dem Online-Marktplatz für High-End. Das Inserat mit der Nummer 725538693 endet am 02.07.2026 um 06:24 Uhr.
This one looks like a strong buy on the numbers: at €8,500, it sits well below the €9,772 25th percentile and materially under the €10,985 median for recent comparables. Against that local used-market anchor, this is a bargain rather than a merely fair ask.
That makes sense for a well-regarded power amp like this: Audio Research’s Reference-series stereo amps are prized for control, transparency, and big-scale musicality, especially if you want tube texture without losing grip. A clean, good-condition example at this level is the kind of listing I’d move on quickly, assuming the usual essentials are in order and it’s been properly maintained.
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.
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