The A-400X was the affordable powerhouse amp of 1996. Beneath that ugly faceplate lies brute power: 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 300 watts per channel into 4 ohms and 500 watts in bridged mono mode, all for a measly list price of $685. And it was THX-certified to boot, back in the day when an amp had to drive a punishing 3.2-ohm test load to get the THX stamp. I still use an A-400X for some of my speaker measurements. It’s 15 years old, works perfectly, and has followed me to three cities and five places of residence without so much as blowing a fuse. An A-400X might typically fetch $300 these days, but I’ve heard of them going for as little as $100. For tons of traditional, all-analog, Class AB power, there’s probably no better deal going.
