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Offered is „REF 160M MkII mono“ by Audio Research as exhibit from the category „Tube-Poweramp“ on audio-markt.de - the online market place for high-end. The advert with the number 1642405784 ends on 15.12.2026 at 18:04 o'clock.
The €22,500 ask looks fair to attractive for a pair of these, and notably close to the lower end of what well-kept used examples have been showing relative to a new price around €45,000 and an original launch price of about €27,000 per pair.
That matters because the 160M is a flagship Audio Research tube monoblock: 140W, auto-biasing, KT150 output stage, and a reputation for big-scale drive with the usual ARC transparency and refinement. If this is a clean, complete pair with healthy tubes and no service needs, it’s a strong enthusiast buy; the main thing to verify is tube age, matching, and that both amps are performing quietly and evenly.
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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