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 This
website features vintage Phase Linear
stereo equipment manufactured between 1970
and 1983. Brief descriptions of the components are given along with
photos. Decades after this equipment was manufactured, Phase Linear amps,
pre-amps and other components are still being sought due to their inherent
excellence.
Phase Linear was founded by Bob Carver in 1970. He had grown up in
Washington state, and had received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in physics
after attending the university there. A brilliant and iconoclastic engineer, Bob
Carver was also a lover of music, and had his own opinions regarding audio
amplification. He had tinkered with amplifier designs all through college
and was constantly prototyping his designs. Legend has it one
amplifier he
designed became known as the "earthquake amp" for its tremendous power.
Carver believed he could manufacture this amp. Like most pioneering
entrepreneurs, Carver was able to put together a team of financial backers and
engineering associates to realize his dream. With the help of Carver's
partners Steve Johnston and Jack Goodfellow, Phase Linear was launched in 1970
in a small building at 405 Howell Way in Edmonds, Washington. The first
component to be manufactured was the model 700 power amplifier, with 350 watts
per channel. It turned the audio world on its ear, and it quickly became a
reference amplifier used by recording studios, jazz and rock bands and
discriminating--and power hungry--audiophiles. The model 400 power amplifier,
with 200 watts per channel, and the famous 4000 pre-amplifier followed.
Demand for Phase Linear components grew dramatically as the company's
reputation grew around the world. In August 1973 the 700 B was introduced. In 1974, the company moved into a new building on 48th Avenue West in Lynnwood,
Washington. Several years later, however, Carver felt the urge to
change direction. He believed the best way to do this was to leave Phase
Linear in 1977 and launch a new company. Carver Corporation was founded in
1978.
A.P. Van Meter joined Phase Linear in 1974, bringing with him his design
experience working at Macintosh and University Sound. When Carver left
Phase Linear in 1977, Van Meter became the Chief Design Engineer and the
Engineering Manager. Under his direction the Series II models were
designed and built, and introduced in 1978.
Phase Linear was purchased by Pioneer
Electronics Corporation in 1979. Pioneer choose to expand the Phase Linear line of components, adding a
turntable, cassette deck, equalizers and new speaker designs. Pioneer then
sold Phase Linear to Jensen in 1982. Jensen announced its decision to
close the Lynnwood plant in December of that year, and production was moved to
Texas.
Jensen's involvement with the traditional market niche Phase Linear had
carved out for itself was short-lived. The last Phase Linear home and
professional stereo component equipment was manufactured in 1983. Jensen
moved Phase Linear into auto sound, where it remains to this day.
At this site you will also find relevant links related to Phase Linear
components giving more detailed information, recommended upgrade modifications,
even an interview with Bob Carver himself as president of his current company,
Sunfire.
Anthony Young, Webmaster
Updated 2-13-2004
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