Przem's Phase Linear 700 Series II White Oak Conversion

P.L.F.

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Not sure all of us read this post by Lee (source -> http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=535620&highlight=Phase+Linear):

"As Lex has linked....the PL topology is greatly improved by Joe at White Oak Audio. He now has come out with boards that replace the sockets on the backplane which also allow for the option of finishing the amp either as a quasi comp or fully comp. The result is a quieter amp that now tests at UNDER 300 MICROVOLTS in residual npoise and signal-to-noise ratios approaching -120db.

I recently had the opportunity to do a side by side comparison between a Fully Comp WOPL (white oaked phaselinear) and a Carver PT2400. In stereo mode the TP 2400 tested at 838 watts per channel into 8 ohms , with both channels being loaded and driven, with the aforementioned WOPL testing at 512 watts per channel into 8 ohms with both loaded and driven. Both amps were tested using my Audio Precision ATS-1DD audio analyzer.

The speakers were pair of Soniphase S6's with a 1000 watt EVX-155 15" woofer. The Carver was trying to clip and go into protect mode before max output was reached. The WOPL drove the Soni's above and beyond what the Carver did. We pushed the Soni's with the WOPL so hard the crossover section that dealt with the mids and tweets actually melted the solder on the connections. The Carver never got close to it. Why would an amp that tested at 838 not outperform an amp that tested at 512?? Good question..my guess as I have no definitive test to tell me is that the design of the original PL's allows for the delivery of massive amounts of current. Yes I am aware of Ohm's law. but there is something about Bob's design that still shines today that after Joe tweaked and improved it, now puts them in my estimation, as a world class amp. Flat response down to 10Hz....ok not flat, but it measures down .(point) 13db at 10 hz. Gentlemen that's a bad ass amp. The max output nimber on the WOPL's can vary from 480-527 watts per depending on secondary transformer voltage. The said WOPL also was tested to max out on 4 ohms. That figure was 775 watts , both loaded and driven. SRail voltage had drooped to 79 volts. With a stiffer power supply it would have doubled into 4 from the 8 figure, a flaw I am in the process of curing by building 2-outboard power supplies (one for each channel) and raising rail voltage to 120 +/- DC. Max out should approach 700 into 8 when I'm done, AND DOUBLE into 4....that enough juice for ya??"

Can't wait for my amp measurements... ;-)
 
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P.L.F.

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P.L.F.

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Look what could happen to our PL's if there was no WOPL upgrade available - THANK YOU JOE! A 'teaser' to start with:

[...]
"A guy asked me to rebuild his Phase Linear 700 amps. These old bangers were famous for being "flame linear", and "failing with smoke" when the party got really hot.

I made the case larger, increased the fins on the heatsinks to what they should have been originally, and used the following schematics below.

I apologize about the hand drawn and scanned schematics, but I doubt there is great need for me to spend 2 days redrawing Figs 1, 2, 3 , 4, 5 in MS paint for everyone to enjoy better. I doubt anyone would want to build the schematic shown.

[...]
After all the work I did on the Phase Linear I concluded that I would never again use BJT output devices. And I will never again reform such a recalcitrant amplifier such as one of these ancient horrors that would ideally be better used as a boat anchor.

So if you have a bunch of dead Phase Linear amps, don't ask me to fix them; this is what I said in 2004. But I retired in 2012, and if you ask me nicely before 2010, I could find time to build you a new and better amp instead, using my special tubepowered Time Machine.

I found there was more work involved with reforming a wayward and fault ridden Phase Linear than building a brand new amp, and because it was a repair job, I could not charge much for my work. "
[...]

Link to the article and schematics here: http://www.turneraudio.com.au/solidstateamps2bjts.htm

Some frightening stuff.....

and another bridging approach for PL700 on the attached photo.....
 

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laatsch55

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Przem...do youy have a DMM?? If so check your voltage between one of you hot leads and ground coming out of the wall....if it reads anything close to 120 that would sure be another way to wire the fan and keep a lot of AC wiring away from the low signal stuff.....
 

JustMike

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Hey Lee on Przem's 700II, are you leaving the l.e.d.'s or changing out the faceplate and going with the 700b meters? Could this be done to Pl700II's?
If leaving the l.e.d.'s, could you change the color other than red? Reminds me of vampire lights on all the new stuff.
 

laatsch55

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Przems is going back stock....but yes you can go with a "B" faceplate and meters, chassis is the same...
 

laatsch55

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Hey Lee on Przem's 700II, are you leaving the l.e.d.'s or changing out the faceplate and going with the 700b meters? Could this be done to Pl700II's?
If leaving the l.e.d.'s, could you change the color other than red? Reminds me of vampire lights on all the new stuff.


Somebody mentioned awhile back they look like Cylons with the red....I don't know if you can change colors, after looking at em, I don't think so ....
 
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