I currently have BHK M300s and am considering upgrading to the PMG amplifiers. I’m trying to decide whether to go to the M400 or the M800. So my question is this: If you put the price difference aside, what are the reasons to NOT choose the M800? That is, what are the negatives of owning the M800 that are not present in the M400?
I can think of only the obvious…size. I was able to unbox and move the M80’s into position, but it was challenging.
If the BHK 300s work well with your current speakers then the PMG M400s should be fine. It’s possible there are hard to drive speakers out there for which the M800s would be better but I don’t know of any examples.
In terms of power output the M800s might seem like overkill, but I am a fan of overkill so I chose the 800s. No regrets.
taking a guess here… heat? Wondering if M800s put out more heat.
To the touch the S400 runs noticeably hotter than an M800 and an 800 is about the same as a BHK 600. As far as total heat radiated in a room it’s harder to estimate since an 800 has about twice the radiating area of the S400 and of the BHK 600.
Interesting. Radiating area may heat the room more but be a little less hot to the touch. I hadn’t thought of that.
That’s an interesting observation because the S400 is 5 watts of class A per channel, or 10 watts total, whereas the M800 is 50 watts of class A. It must be the amount of heat sinking (as you point out) because I would have guessed that the m800 would be the warmer.
I am now using and very happy with the S200, driving a pair of F20’s so I don’t see the need for the beast’s power. In addition to others comments, the M800 is too deep for any normal rack. And as to weight, it’s not just your initial setup to take into consideration, think about how considering moving two almost 100 lb amps might influence future ideas about reorganization. That’s why I bought a platform with wheels for my F12 (Chris says nothing is need SQ wise under the F12 but it does look nice sitting on a butcher block platform.
is there another way?
I plan to continue until it kills me.
I gave it up for Lent. . . and am keepin’ on keepin’ on.
they will have to pry overkill from my cold dead hands
Have you considered biamping with four beasts?
Ha! Wouldn’t that be something? A PMG M800 should have plenty of power to drive a tweeter --especially if it doesn’t have to be bothered with a pesky woofer, too! 
Literally not enough space behind the FR30s. They are 10 feet from the front wall which is enough for each 800 and its P20. Never liked anything between speakers.
NEVER seen it but sky hooks from the ceiling would allow a vertical stack of two beasts and two P20’s, one for each beast, behind each F30. How cool would that be. Anyone want to go into business with me? SHaudio: the ultimate in vibration isolation. Think how much we could get for the gizmos that go between the ceiling hooks and the cables (silver plated, cryogenically treated steel, coated with low impedance insulation). And, of course, the cables will have directional arrows as any vibrational karma needs to flow up to heaven.
By the way, anybody here actually ever listen to music? Just asking.
Now I want to replace my BHK 250 with PMG M400 mono blocks hung from the ceiling just to make enough room for a pair of FR20s. And a disco ball.
Frick, I hope BTC gets back to $100,000 soon!
Cool! And don’t worry, the birds need some burn in time.