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Author Topic: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project  (Read 16188 times)

OldiesButGoodies

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Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« on: June 04, 2016, 08:30:08 PM »
Creating a thread to store pictures from my slowly unfolding Phase Linear 400 refurb. 

As purchased:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

One of the power supply can caps was shorted so I replaced them with a slightly higher value and voltage set of caps (from 5900 uf to 6800 uf):

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

The new cans are smaller and do not use screw terminals,  so had to use a rubber spacer to retain the original mount and adapt O terminals so the original Phase Linear wiring was not affected:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

Also added bypass caps per OCCD's suggestion:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

I bought all the caps to redo the driver board:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

But it sounds so good as-is that I am thinking of not doing anything to that board for now (if not broken,  don't fix it..)

Next is the install of the blue-LED mod  and the speaker protection relays (neither has arrived).   And finding a Phase Linear 2000 to pair it up with. 

Will post pics after that as well. 

 :)

OBG


« Last Edit: June 04, 2016, 09:27:44 PM by OldiesButGoodies »
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Offline F1nut

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2016, 09:09:57 PM »
Looks fine so far. I like the wood cabinet.

I'm sure you meant 5900uF, right?
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OldiesButGoodies

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2016, 09:28:43 PM »
Quote from: F1nut on June 04, 2016, 09:09:57 PM
Looks fine so far. I like the wood cabinet.

I'm sure you meant 5900uF, right?

Yes! corrected that typo...  Thanks for the + feedback Jesse.

Reg,

OBG
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Offline Kingman

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2016, 05:51:48 AM »
What led you to try a Phase Linear Pepe?
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OldiesButGoodies

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2016, 09:34:40 AM »
This Phase Linear 400 showed up on Clist locally at a good price,  so I snatched it.  I want to have a second system so I thought I could use this as the starting point. Never owned a pre-Carver Carver product and I liked the fact that it came with a wood case in good shape.  Happy so far - just afraid to use it with the big speakers until the relay is installed!
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Offline Kingman

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2016, 09:51:22 AM »
I'm listening to my Dual 500 right now...they are great amps and the bad rap they have acquired is undeserved...most were ran in professional applications and abused to the max!
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Offline papabearjew

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2016, 01:17:27 AM »
One mod you should do that was never done to mine is the speaker protection mod like White Oak offers. Every time I shut it off I held my breath for the very loud shut down thump that went through your speakers. I think that mod also protects your speakers from the straight DC issue they're known for. I still have to have my PL400 looked at to see what damage I caused to it. You may want to look online and see some photos of it with the blue LEDs. I like the natural color that they came with better. It keeps with the  vintage heritage of the amp. They do offer LEDs in natural colors. My opinion of course.
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OldiesButGoodies

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2016, 08:44:33 AM »
Hey PBJ -

I did look at the Oak Audio mod for speaker protection,  but found it a bit expensive at 100 for what is essentially a uPC1237 chip and some relays,  so I ordered it separately on ebay for a lot less (1/10th the price) and I am going with that.   Did notice a bit of a thump on shut off,  not too bad (I have heard much worse - I am looking at you, Melos equipment) and thought it would be taken care of by a ceramic cap by the power feed but not sure yet.  Come to think of it I could use the relays controlled by the 1237 for that as well,  just need to think it through a bit. 

On the meters - I ordered the blue LED kit.  Guilty,   I like the blue light (and I can barely see the needles dancing with the original lights).  I am trying my best to do everything in such a way that a future owner concerned with originality can reverse my work,  so along with the old can caps I will store the existing lighting board so it can be swapped back in.   

As I mentioned earlier,  I am surprised at how good this amp sounds for being a "budget audiophile amp" of the early seventies.

OBG
« Last Edit: June 06, 2016, 08:46:22 AM by OldiesButGoodies »
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Offline papabearjew

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2016, 12:47:18 AM »
OBG sounds good
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Offline F1nut

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2016, 01:26:49 AM »
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Offline Kingman

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2016, 09:05:04 AM »
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OldiesButGoodies

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2016, 05:28:24 PM »
And now I also have the Phase Linear 2000 pre to pair it up with...  Wil start working on the blue LED mod tonight. :P
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OldiesButGoodies

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #12 on: June 07, 2016, 09:34:24 PM »
This is an absurdly easy mod if you buy the kit from Oak Audio - very well done:

Before:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

Boards side by side:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

Installed:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

And lit up:

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr

I like the look.   :'(

OBG
« Last Edit: June 08, 2016, 09:45:43 AM by OldiesButGoodies »
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Offline MacGeek

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #13 on: June 08, 2016, 05:33:28 AM »
Looking good.  There is just something about big blue meters.............
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OldiesButGoodies

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Re: Phase Linear 400 Refurbishing Project
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2016, 04:05:26 PM »
Minor mishap last night while recapping the control board - blew one of the fuses in search of a 12V signal (this thing has 80V all over the place) and the %$%$# fuse is that strange AGX size.  Instead of searching for a new fuse I am installing a regular size fuse holder and going on with life.   ::)

Untitled by Jose Sifontes, on Flickr
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