Phase Linear 200 Series 2 on loan

derek92994

derek92994

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George (Bobbysdad) has been so kind to loan me a Phase Linear 200 Series II, my first taste of a PL amp. Have just hooked it up and am listening to Mr Bungle's "Disco Volante" through it which has some interesting dynamics. I'm using my Pioneer VSX-9500s as a pre-amp. Sounds great so far, very clean and capable indeed, just as good or even better than the pioneer. I do notice that the volume has to be turned up a bit higher than when running the Pioneer with its inbuilt amp, this may be related to the Pre-Out and what the sensitivity is like on the PL200. The JBL 4311b's pair up well with this amp and sound as good as ever. Big thanks to George for giving me this opportunity :thumbup:









 
pennysdad

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it looks a bit dirty.
you can give it a good clean if you want D2.
full points given to the original owner for engraving his name and phone number on the front panel, otherwise a totally original one previous owner amp.
of course it's not as good (and big) as some amps but fun just the same.
.... and it's always nice to see the name 'Phase Linear' in any form in the rack.

knock yourself out D2.
you're most welcome.
 
derek92994

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Sure I'll give it a clean, must get some Mr Sheen for the front silver, and get that dust off the heat sinks. I put a fan on the heat sinks but it runs quite cool anyway.
 
derek92994

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Lee, what's your opinion on these PL 200 series 2's when stock? I just found out it was released the year I was born (1978).
 
pennysdad

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derek92994 said:
Lee, what's your opinion on these PL 200 series 2's when stock? I just found out it was released the year I was born (1978).
Click to expand...
I'll tell you wot he thinks.

The name looks nice.... :laughing9:

Let's face it. It's NOT a 400, but then even poor people have to start somewhere. Right Lee? :confused2:
 
derek92994

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bobbysdad said:
I'll tell you wot he thinks.

The name looks nice.... :laughing9:

Let's face it. It's NOT a 400, but then even poor people have to start somewhere. Right Lee? :confused2:
Click to expand...
I sure like the name, and the power light doubles as a night light so I don't get scared :cyclopsani: I'm just keeping an eye out for signs of smoke :laughing9:
 
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The PL 200 has great dynamics and wonderful sound in a small wattage package. Joe is slowly dimming the line between small, good sounding amps and PA compromised monsters. If full comp does to the 700 what it has done to the 400, shouldn't be able to tell them apart now.
 
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The PL200 Series2, if it hasn't been mucked with, is a sweet sounding amp. Lee knows that because I mention that from time to time as one of the gold standards.

The 400 and 700 in stock configuration not as mellow as the 200 is but with the improvements we have engineered into them, especially the full comp mode, the 400 and 200 now compare very well soundwise.
 
derek92994

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So far so good, the PL200 SE2 works great with the JBL 4311b's and even makes the two low-fi grungy albums played this morning sound great. I look forward to something more powerful down the track, its just money that's the issue. Until then I'm going to just sit back and enjoy. Thanks for your opinion guys :toothy10:
 
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The PL200 should be plenty for those JBL monitors that you have. They are pretty efficient.
 
Gepetto

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I think Lee wants you to eject the voice coils across the room :) Send photos after you do...
 
derek92994

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Gepetto said:
I think Lee wants you to eject the voice coils across the room :) Send photos after you do...
Click to expand...
I will get that WOPL eventually, its going to take some time. I certainly don't regret purchasing the 4311b's.
 
derek92994

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Well it handled DMT quite nice, testing with Star Shpongled Banner now. Its a different sound from the pioneer, but I just can't put my finger on what it is as my hearing/knowledge of what to listen for is not that well developed. Were there any other Shpongle test tracks you recommended Lee?
 
pennysdad

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derek92994 said:
Its a different sound from the pioneer, but I just can't put my finger on what it is as my hearing/knowledge of what to listen for is not that well developed.
Click to expand...
two different amps will always give you two different sounds.....
the thing is, after listening to either for more than 5 minutes, and your hearing will adapt, to enjoy whichever you're listening to. (as long as they're both decent amps of course.)
anyway, the 200 and the 4311's are a very good match, as you've already found, and confirmed by smarter people than me in this thread. It's why I recommended one, and loaned you the other.
wot u have is a pretty good entry level into better things to come.

as far as learning wot to listen for D2, and improving your education about wot u should be listening out for, well u needed a good starting point, and so it starts here, and it will become more apparent when things are just wrong. You won't need anyone to tell you that. Look how far you've got in only the last month or so, and compare that with wot u had before. BIG difference huh?
just lie back and enjoy it while you can, before you start looking further up the track.

eventually you'll realise that there's so much better even again, but by the time you'll be able to afford it you'll be a very poor old man..... :confused2:

btw: if the Nak deck has a volume output control, try running that straight to the 200, instead of using the preamp, and see how that goes. BE CAREFUL.
 
derek92994

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Thanks George =) My Denon DR-F7 Cassette deck, and Yamaha CDC-775 CD changer have output level control. The cd player goes up in 6 increments so will have to watch that where as the Denon has a proper volume pot. I know what you mean by being "careful" as the amp is always at full power. I always make sure I power down the amp first before shutting off the pre-amp, and then the opposite on power up so there are no major "thumps" going through.

Yes the difference with the speaks was huge, sure took me by surprise, you guided me well there.

At the moment I'm creating some more thorens youtube vids as people keep subscribing (98 so far) and I have not put any vids up for ages.
 
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