phase linear 400
- Thread starter gene french
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- Gillette, Wyo.
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- Halfbiass...Electron Herder and Backass Woof
Yes, your driver board is a 400C. It will be a Pl14 from White Oak. Requires the drilling of 1 hole to mount.
Backplanes are what White Oak calls the printed circuit boards that the outputs mount to if you go that route. They basically replace the sockets on the backwall, also allowing full comp operation.
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2022
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- music...the healer of souls...
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2022
- Messages
- 5,199
- Tagline
- music...the healer of souls...
Gene, I never ran any of my 3 amps in stock form. Never even plugged them in to see if they worked. Reason: I always wanted the classic PL system I saw in a HiFi shop as a teenager in the 70s, but could never afford. Finally, I could afford them and started doing research, found the WOAD (Joe) website, and a link to Phoenix. I read and researched everything before buying my 400s locally, and ordering kits. I built both before ever posting here, by closely looking at Perry's "WOPL Sniffers" 700 builds. He has lots of photos buried in old posts, and he does a outstanding job. I copied him (mostly him) and others. I seldom got things exactly right the first time, so I'd redo it and got better. I had little experience in building something so big and complicated, but I could solder well, experience from recapping old Dell motherboards. And, I had most all the hand tools.
If Joe says everything will fit, then it will! I ordered the kits, built the control and back plane boards, and even the Series 2 Cylon VU meters. If your going to WOPL it, go full WOPL! New everything to make that amp good for another 50 years. Yes, it's expensive, but it's a investment that you can pass on to the next generation.
The guys who have had many amps said nothing beats it, and it's a amazing deal compared to buying something comparable new.
The kits come with all components for the boards, you can get them unassembled, assembled, or have one of the techs build one for you using your core.
If Joe says everything will fit, then it will! I ordered the kits, built the control and back plane boards, and even the Series 2 Cylon VU meters. If your going to WOPL it, go full WOPL! New everything to make that amp good for another 50 years. Yes, it's expensive, but it's a investment that you can pass on to the next generation.
The guys who have had many amps said nothing beats it, and it's a amazing deal compared to buying something comparable new.
The kits come with all components for the boards, you can get them unassembled, assembled, or have one of the techs build one for you using your core.
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2022
- Messages
- 5,199
- Tagline
- music...the healer of souls...
thank you for sharing your story....my story is similar...a buddy had a 400....i was eating my heart out...lol...
well, i have experience building electronic stuff...was a ham since 68 and had to build my rigs....heathkit ring a bell??
and in 82 i bought a computer store and at that time we did component level diags and repairs...that ended a few years later with the multilayer motherboards and surface mounted ics and stuff....but, i am not a newbie with a soldering iron, solder sucker, and ic boards...
i do need the light kit, cap kit, and the driver board kit...
not sure if i want to change the outputs for now...advise me why i should????
....what comes in the backplane kit for the 400...are the output transistor sets included??
i see that the transistors are not too expensive...what are the advantages....
i dont think transistors wear out so to speak...set me straight...lol
thanks
gene
well, i have experience building electronic stuff...was a ham since 68 and had to build my rigs....heathkit ring a bell??
and in 82 i bought a computer store and at that time we did component level diags and repairs...that ended a few years later with the multilayer motherboards and surface mounted ics and stuff....but, i am not a newbie with a soldering iron, solder sucker, and ic boards...
i do need the light kit, cap kit, and the driver board kit...
not sure if i want to change the outputs for now...advise me why i should????
....what comes in the backplane kit for the 400...are the output transistor sets included??
i see that the transistors are not too expensive...what are the advantages....
i dont think transistors wear out so to speak...set me straight...lol
thanks
gene
Get new output transistors from Joe. His price is less than Mouser or Digikey. They are the newest iterations and have a greater SOA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_operating_area
Cut no corners, buy Joe's wire kit also. All mil-spec silver plated Teflon insulated. You'll also need additional 16 or 14 AWG like wire for the AC runs, a new rectifier, and rectifier snubber caps. Heat shrink, ring terminals, alcohol for cleaning the boards, etc. New fuses, etc.
When you buy the kits, Joe sends PDF tech documents with instructions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_operating_area
Cut no corners, buy Joe's wire kit also. All mil-spec silver plated Teflon insulated. You'll also need additional 16 or 14 AWG like wire for the AC runs, a new rectifier, and rectifier snubber caps. Heat shrink, ring terminals, alcohol for cleaning the boards, etc. New fuses, etc.
When you buy the kits, Joe sends PDF tech documents with instructions.
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Messages
- 74,240
- Location
- Gillette, Wyo.
- Tagline
- Halfbiass...Electron Herder and Backass Woof
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Messages
- 74,240
- Location
- Gillette, Wyo.
- Tagline
- Halfbiass...Electron Herder and Backass Woof
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Messages
- 74,240
- Location
- Gillette, Wyo.
- Tagline
- Halfbiass...Electron Herder and Backass Woof