One further consideration. The previous owner wired in a couple of input potentiometers ala Series 2. I didn't mention them as I assumed the Amp was working prior to losing some transistors. Here are some pictures, I somewhat wonder if the input/output wiring is incorrect? I would remove them, however there are two holes in the faceplate for them. I did go ahead and put them back in the faceplate just to see if there was some sort of grounding needed, but the issue of the dbt still exists.
Original 400 S2 pot and wiring.
The middle lug (red wire) is known as the "wiper", and ALWAYS carries signal to the control board.
The black wire carries signal from the RCA to the pot.
The sliver wire is the ground or shield wire. Goes from the RCA copper plate to that pot lug, then from the pot lug to the control board.
You can use a twisted pair, mini coax such as Belden RG316, or the original Belden cable that PL used as shown in the photo.
Many of us building or having built WOPLs bypass the signal attenuators (front pots) or leave them out all together.
My three S2 WOPLs have LEDs in place of the attenuators.