Phase Linear

Not sure if you are still looking for opinions on this but just ran into this thread so let me give you my 2 cents. I own 2 400 amps, the 4000 pre amp (which I don't use any more. Replaced with a Fosgate) and the 5000 tunner. I purchased them from the original owner whom took great care of them. I don't doubt that someone sometime ago did something to their amp as far as using the wrong value fuse, etc which caused the "flames" but for me these amps are GREAT!!!! The are pushed hard playing loud Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc matched to B&W's and the sound is just fantastic!!! Granted, I have not sampled the thousands of amps out there so it is unfair for me to give a comparison. I honestly don't know where you can buy a 2 channel 200 watt per channel amp for around $250-300. I love the look and it simply sounds great. Maybe I lucked out and got 2 great amps but for me I am not looking to replace them any time soon.

OH- If you are looking for an inexpensive, and high powered/decent sounding/VERY stable SS amp: Find a Hafler DH-500. 255 Watts into 8ohms, can drive a 2ohm load easily(you can practically arc weld with one). Do a search on them. I'm using a Hafler TransNova 9505 to drive my subwoofers. I'm a tube-freak, but- couldn't pass up this discussion.

I owned an audio retail/repair shop in Florida for years(early 80's). Most in the industry referred to them as, "Flame Linears". Back then(70's/80's) solid state was in it's early days still and people of the "louder is better" set really went for the power of these units. 'Til they self-destructed(usually). The high-end audio press panned or slammed them(horrendous sound), as they did the rest of his designs for years afterwards. He built a very lightweight, high power amp that Yamaha violated his patents rights on back then. The Absolute Sound magazine said that Yamaha had, "succeeded in duplicating the Titanic, complete with the hole"(cracked me up). He's still building audio gear, and some of it has received rave reviews(again- in the high end press).

Great boat anchors

Well, I guess I am the proverbial contrarian here but; last night I played music for 2 hours non stop to start braking in a new pair of speakers I just purchased. I got the Wharfdale Pacific Evolution 30's. These speakers are rated at 6 ohms, 89 db sensitivity, 200 watts rms. I played fairly loud and continuous for the 2 hours and the sound was very, very good. The amp was hot but no a hint of stress or distortion, or any other anomaly. The speakers are not the most easy to drive nor are they the most difficult out there. Again, I personally can't understand the persistent negative reputation of these amps? Either I got the only 2 great PL 400 amps or others are doing something wrong with them?