Does anyone know why some enterprising manufacturer couldn't reproduce the design specs and quality of the original AR speakers today, manufacture them in China, and sell them for what would be equivalent prices today? Are there patent restrictions? Other legal barriers?
Taking 1971 as a base year, and adjusting for inflation, today the $250 AR-3a would cost about $1,400, the $128 AR-2ax would cost around $717, and the $63 AR-4x would cost around $353.
Given the cheap labor market in China, one would think that you could get such value at least as cheaply today. But today's speakers at the equivalent quality levels of the ARs seem to cost much more, and speakers that go for equivalent amounts these days don't match the performance.
Or am I wrong? Are there any speakers today that match AR quality for comparable prices?
Does anyone know why some enterprising manufacturer couldn't reproduce the design specs and quality of the original AR speakers today, manufacture them in China, and sell them for what would be equivalent prices today? Are there patent restrictions? Other legal barriers?
Taking 1971 as a base year, and adjusting for inflation, today the $250 AR-3a would cost about $1,400, the $128 AR-2ax would cost around $717, and the $63 AR-4x would cost around $353.
Given the cheap labor market in China, one would think that you could get such value at least as cheaply today. But today's speakers at the equivalent quality levels of the ARs seem to cost much more, and speakers that go for equivalent amounts these days don't match the performance.
Or am I wrong? Are there any speakers today that match AR quality for comparable prices?