| Rumors of Audio Research Sale Are True But No Deal Yet |
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| Home Theater News Industry-Trade News | |
| Written by Jerry Del Colliano | |
| Monday, 01 April 2002 | |
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Rumors of Audio Research Sale Are True But No Deal Yet
 Tube electronics legend Audio Research is officially on the block but, contrary to the rumors circulating in the AV industry, there is no buyer yet. There has been a rumor of a $1,500,000 purchase from rival Conrad Johnson however Lew Johnson, one of the founders of CJ, says “that is absolutely not the case.” Talk of other Chinese and Japanese companies have surfaced but Dave Gordon of Audio Research says that no one fitting that bill is even on the radar.
Gordon supplied AudioRevolution.com with a newsletter sent to Audio Research dealers on the topic of the company being sold and the conditions for any possible sale. The conditions include: 1) maintaining Audio Research as a leader in the field of high end music playback 2) on-going service of all current and past products 3) keeping all current employees without a change of location 4) keeping the current dealer network 5) keeping Bill Johnson as the lead designer for tube products.  With all of the stipulations to the sale, an Audio Research deal may be difficult but at 75 years old Bill Johnson is likely looking for help in running, financing and developing high performance audio products. The Audio Research brand has significant value in the marketplace just as the Marantz name did for Philips which would be the draw for any possible suitor however the line will likely need to be reinvented to become more friendly to a multi-channel environment for music and movies.
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