Yes, correct and agree on 110%!AnotherJohnson wrote: ↑Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:21 pm The colored amps are the I/50.
I think that could be part of the problem. They were a major commitment, and they do not seem to be moving.
Jeff may look like the genius.., he is not putting any money into anything that doesn’t have a strong source of funding. He is not worrying about supporting legacy products, and when he does support them, he does not do it at a loss or break even level. He makes money.
Putting all effort into a handful of tube designs with NO BELLS OR WHISTLES, he minimizes his development investment. No giant footprint for the building. No legacy work force. No one to even reliably answer questions.
He picks his battles. He is on site producing, ie paying his own way, not paying others to produce. No wasting money on advertising or show attendance.
His style caters to high rollers who want the gold faceplate and the lucky eights. CJ is a true boutique builder.
I’ve said it before … CJ’s business model is deliberate, and for now, effective. Even if it makes some old customers angry.
Regarding Eikon, there has been no serious industry buzz since the introduction. It is hard to imagine that he would be selling enough stuff to keep the lights on.
ARC’s situation, coming directly on the heels of Axpona where they had a large presence, suggests the possibility that they were hoping for more solid orders than materialized.
It is too early to write ARC off, but they’re caught in the small size company range with a significant payroll and development costs. Maybe the Italians will come back in.
I hope this is all just a passing problem. I really like Trent Suggs. It is good when the good guys do well.
And in ARC’s case, the Feibiger era gear sounds incredible. Way better than anything I’ve heard from anyone else. I’m not biased … I pick based on buying or borrowing and comparing. Many like the REF 250 SE and REF 75SE as pinnacle products for the line. Aside from the ghost meters, triode mode, and auto bias, the REF 160 family just doesn’t seem to capture the same level of “WoW!.”
CJ is definitely a boutique brand, and a very highend one too. No frills, and no bells or whistles, you get exactly what you pay for. The high roller dealers are still there to support you, and Jeff makes sure his "ART" customers are looked after. So can't argue with that!
Spot on with ARC, it's just too large of an American icon to be ignored or go unwanted. Someone will step in and take over, it's far too valuable to lose. Just considering it's vibrant history and how it helped other companies like Magnepan to take off. Far too valuable.
I hope this tube supply issues get sorted out. Perhaps we shouldn't rely too much on Russian made... but they sound bloody great!
Enjoy those finest tunes!
RJ