New Member, New Project, Here's my 400!

[Danimal1969]

Hi Everybody! I came here because Ron (northwinds) suggested I join this forum. Before I met him, I had never heard of the world of WOPL amplifiers. But after hearing his, my ears were convinced but I knew it would be a long time until I could afford such a bad ass piece of gear.

Since I consider myself somewhat handy with a soldering iron and have restored some pieces of gear, I started keeping my eye out for a project. Well I picked this up yesterday...a fine looking PL400. The seller said it worked last time he used it and offered to have me come to his place to test it, but since it was a really long drive, we met halfway. So it's currently untested, but I did check the fuses and they were all in tact.

I've been reading here and I have so many questions. I guess I should start by saying I cannot afford to do all the upgrades and mods all at once. Ron suggested that after a test run, I start with a wattsabundent DC protection board. What else should I be looking at doing early in this process? And where can I get the owners manual for this beast? Is there a particular link somewhere here that details the list of mods that turns a stock PL 400 into the famed WOPL 400?

Without further babble, here is the only pic I have of the amp right now.

 

[laatsch55]

To get an idea of what's possible peruse the "WOPL Building" section. Plenty of builds with before and after testing and subjective listening evaluations...

If you've restored some gear, it's entirely possible to do a WOPL. Joe has taken the guesswork out of all White Oak installations, concise instructions and personal help is standard....

Joe posts here as Gepetto , and we usually see him every day....

 

[FredR]

Welcome! You will soon be addicted. Resistance is futile.

 

[laatsch55]

You will be assimilated....

 

[Danimal1969]

I got no problem with that.

 

[Fishoz]

Welcome to the madhouse.....

Nav...start the assimilation process!!

 

[laatsch55]

Uh oh!!!! NavLimation.....

 

[Billboard]

Looks like you picked up a PL400 in nice condition cosmetically. That is all that really matters, because anything on the inside can be replaced/upgraded.

The first thing I would do before powering that up is build a Dim Bulb Tester (referred to on this board as a DBT).

That will prevent major damage if there are problems.

If you do not have a DBT then at least check the speaker jacks for DC voltage with no input and no speakers, if you have any questions at all there are tons of nice folks here that will help you with anything you need.

 

[NavLinear]

Welcome to our small part of the universe - I'm happy you made it here. I've seen a few of your posts at AK and I know that you've had the chance to visit Ron a time or three - cool stuff.

You made a good choice getting an eight finned PL 400 as configuration management was under control. The four finned units were a crap shoot regarding the amplifier configuration compared to the earlier version four finned units.

Ron hit the nail on the head for one of the most important mods of a stock PL amp and that is the DC protect board. I ran a 400 for many years in a stock configuration without issue except for the infamous power thump. Other than the full monty upgrade you could modify the grounding scheme to a single point ground (star ground) and incur little to no cost for this. There's a controller board mod that you can do to improve the low end frequency response by subbing in a different value capacitor. IIRC there's another mod you can do to the stock controller board to minimize the possibility of output frequency oscillation.

Here's a Nav babe welcome:

 

[Danimal1969]

Ok, whike I'm waiting for the mods to approve my photos, here are some observations and questions.

1) Overall, how does this look to you guys?

2) Why is there nothing holding down the two giant capacitors?

3) Top row of transistors are all Rca 410. 3 of them say 7608 and one that has clearly been changed says CXH509. I assume those are date codes?

4) All others are PL909 with a 607 or 603 on them as well.

5) There was some oily residue on the bottom of the power tranny. Concerning or not?

So lets hear it...did I buy a good one or a lemon? And no, I haven't plugged it in yet. Power cord is suspect.

 

[Gepetto]

Ok, whike I'm waiting for the mods to approve my photos, here are some observations and questions.

1) Overall, how does this look to you guys? Looks good

2) Why is there nothing holding down the two giant capacitors? There is double sided tape that seems to have given way over the years.

3) Top row of transistors are all Rca 410. 3 of them say 7608 and one that has clearly been changed says CXH509. I assume those are date codes? Those are date codes Do they all say RCA410 on them, even the CXH509 one?

4) All others are PL909 with a 607 or 603 on them as well. Again those are date codes

5) There was some oily residue on the bottom of the power tranny. Concerning or not?

So lets hear it...did I buy a good one or a lemon? And no, I haven't plugged it in yet. Power cord is suspect.

See inserted comments above

 

[Danimal1969]

Yes, the top row all says RCA 410.

The others all say PL909.

 

[Gepetto]

Yes, the top row all says RCA 410.

The others all say PL909.

That is good.

 

[Northwinds]

Welcome Dan!!!!!! Glad you made it here. I have a feeling you will have a lot of fun here at Phoenix. AK is cool but here is where you can be you

BTW folks... Dan is a fucking giant, I get a neck ache talking to him LAMO!!!!

 

[Fishoz]

That explains Danimal....

 

[Northwinds]

You will be assimilated....

and then some!!!

 

[orange]

We have a guy named Dannihilator on Bike Forums

 

[Danimal1969]

We have a guy named Dannihilator on Bike Forums

I am on a few bike forums, Rat Rod Bikes and The Cabe. But I am Danimal on both of them.

 

[Danimal1969]

Welcome Dan!!!!!! Glad you made it here. I have a feeling you will have a lot of fun here at Phoenix. AK is cool but here is where you can be you

BTW folks... Dan is a fucking giant, I get a neck ache talking to him LAMO!!!!

And I feel like a snob always looking down at you. Lol.

But seriously, going to Ron's house is like going to a flea market of all audio goodness. He takes all my money. Big jerk.

 

[laatsch55]

For starters, the 410's are on the BOTTOM row.....I know, damn details......