Several products introduced in the 80s have over the years become industry standards and are still in manufacture today, albeit in an updated form, taking advantage of improved manufacturing processes and, most importantly, higher quality componentry. These include the Sixgate 6-channel noise gate, Quadcomp 4-channel compressor/limiter and the venerable EQ 60 Dual 1/3rd Octave equaliser, sales of which have now exceeded 10,000 units.
ARX has always striven to ensure that the company is represented by high quality distributors. This was further reinforced last year with the appointment of Bose Corp Greater China as ARX distributor for Hong Kong and China. European distribution was also re-structured and re-invigorated in 2002 with the appointment of Electric Audio in the Netherlands, A Prevost S.A. in Belgium, KEM Ltd in Greece and Park Sound & Light in Turkey.
ARX managing director Colin Park described where ARX is heading after 20 years: "We're excited by the new products we've recently released, the MSX 32 and MSX 8 active mic and line splitters are both selling extremely well, as are most of the other signal distribution products. Sales of the smaller SPL powered loudspeakers have also exceeded our expectations; the new EQ products being released at the Frankfurt Pro Light & Sound exhibition in March should also do well as equalisers and signal processing generally has always been a strong product area for ARX."
"We're involved in less OEM manufacturing for other Companies than we were in the 90s. However, since 2001 we've been active in designing and manufacturing specialist audio and power control products in the defence area for several Australian organizations, an area we find extremely interesting and one that offers the prospect of future product growth for the company."
"At a time when it appears a lot of audio manufacturers will end up being owned by Stylus manufacturers, car audio companies or their Chinese OEM suppliers, Duncan, David and I are pleased that we've built an independent company that still holds to its core values of designing and manufacturing a comprehensive range of products that people like to use, are reliable and are supported in a professional manner."
"An old mate of ours, Hans Freytag, describes pro audio as the world's largest cottage industry, a fairly accurate description, even these days. It's certainly a most enjoyable industry to work in, as the last 20 years have proved."
(Lee Baldock)
