Phase Linear
Advertisement
Equipment
Phase Linear manufactures or has manufactured the following equipment (click to expand models list):
CD-Players
Dynamic Speakers
Solid State Amplifiers
Tape Decks
Tuners
Turntables
General information
TAC (January 19, 2010): The Phase Linear website is currently offline.
James Wong (August 19, 2004): 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.
External links
Phase Linear Lynwood Factory trained Phase Linear Service Department technician
Phase Linear Reference Website by Anthony Young
Forum topics on Phase Linear
The following topics regarding Phase Linear in general can be found in the forums. Topics about specific models can be found on the model pages. If you want to start a new topic, click here.