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This DAC3 MKll is in excellent condition. I own for several Years and always sounds really good. I'm selling because I purchase A newer model. It comes with owners manual original, original box, and power cable, All in the original double box.
This is a buyer’s market for older high-end DACs, and US$1,300 for a DAC 3 looks fair-to-strong rather than stretched. TMR Audio has a DAC 3 listed in used stock, which is a good anchor that this is still a real, tradeable piece in the market; at this level, the price is in the zone where condition and completeness matter more than chasing a bargain label.
The appeal here is classic Audio Research: a tube DAC with a big, organic presentation and the sort of musicality that keeps these units desirable long after newer delta-sigma boxes have come and gone. If the power cable is included and the unit is clean, this is the kind of listing that can be a sensible pickup for someone who wants a distinctly “Audio Research” digital front end. I’d still want confidence on age-related service history and basic functionality, but at US$1,300 the upside is real if it’s been cared for.
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.
