You and your friends aren't alone. The SS Reference series got a deservedly bad reputation due to the later models being prone to breakdown.
Soundstream (actually, Stewart, who constructed the boards and were later bought out by SS) tried to cut costs going with outsourced power supplies and the problems started.
The S and SX series in particular were really known for their bad power supplies. When you get a good one, they are an excellent amp, but it's a crap shoot.
It was Soundstream's response to the problem that put them under. Warranty returns were held up, it took forever to get the repaired amps back to the customers, most of the repaired amps broke down again, etc. etc.
It didn't take long for customers to get pissed, and retailers dumped Soundstream for more "safe" products, like Kicker and Rockford Fosgate.
SS had gotten so big by going into the mainstream market that it wasn't possible for them to return to being a specialty mfr and that was it for them. The first buyout was pretty quiet, and the Rubicon line was developed. The first series are good amps. They are similar to the later Reference series, but the dependability issues were addressed.
But the damage of the earlier mistakes were unable to be overcome, and the company collapsed. Power Acoustik purchased the remains and uses the name, but none of the earlier board designs. The Rubicon II series were made overseas, the focus being on mass production, as with the rest of the Power Acoustik products. They have a couple of high end amps that are well built, but most of it isn't worth owning IMO.
