phase linear 400

[WOPL Sniffer]

Those outputs have a "Life Expectancy" just like a set of tires. When they go, it aint pretty. Why upgrade your amp and leave the old junk? I don't know why you would need somebody to advise you if you know trons.

 

[gene french]

thanks guys so much for the info!!!!
certainly a lot to ponder and plan...
which is half the fun!!!

Why would you keep 40 year old stressed components?? Especially when the new outputs are 10 times better and 40 years NEWER and unstressed?

 

[gene french]

this can be a double sided sword....what to upgrade....or what not to upgrade...
how much upgrading would you do to a shelby gt500.....or a 70 hemi cuda...the new hellcat motor spits out a bunch more hp than the 426....but you dont see anyone jerking out the hemi to put in the hellcat engine...but, you would make corrections to prolong the life of the 426 .....
i guess it depends on where you see the value .... i remember the sounds of the original 400....certain parts of my anatomy would engorge....just thinking about it....lol....
i simply want more information and time to decide how far i want to go...and in what time frame...
yes the new stuff is better....and if so...then why are we all restoring 40 year old equipment???... i think we are all attracted to the memories and feelings these machines once stirred in us....or at least that is why i am doing it...
i want to retain as much of the original 400 as possible ....while increasing the reliability and safe playability...
however, on the other side of the coin...i dont want it to happen either....
joe assured me....these units were not just power houses....they were state of the art at the time....and a vast improvement of units costing much more....i believe i quoted that right...
as joe said, take my time...read and study, after all my unit has been playing for almost 50 years now...and has yet to implode or take out speakers...
as far as i can see....it is still 100% original...i see no signs of parts changed out...
i see many of you have multiple units....maybe to compare new vs. original....to judge the performance against what once was...
maybe i will do that as i know more....
i do appreciate all of your advice and help....there is a lot i dont understand and beginning to learn....
i need opinions from both sides of the coin...please continue with your advice and feelings....
that is what makes a group such as this one worth reading....unbiased...
another consideration for me is my location....i paid 375 for the 400...100 freight to get it to miami....210 + to get it to my home because of the freight and import duties....all of these parts i buy from joe will cost almost double by the time i get them.....i am sure to spend more than i could ever retrieve from selling the unit ....just sayin....
however, that being said....i am not doing this as an investment....only for my audio pleasure.....and as you all have said....its a great hobby....
again....my thanks

 

[gene french]

another territory i want to explore....if i may....
i want a modern dac capable preamp for the 400....i have no intentions of reliving my vinyl, reel to reel, or cassette days...and am not sold on purchasing a retro preamp....unless i am convinced differently....
but, we do love my music which plays about 8 hours a day....always streaming from spotify and youtube....plus my personal collection of digital reproductions of my music....and played through vlc player...i gave away my vinyl and tape collection to a nephew in the early 90s....yes, i agree....big mistake...but, my nephew sure appreciates it today, and has expanded the collection i gave him...
we also use the system as a home theatre for movie night....sure puts new spark in the newer star trek movies....and other action films...
for radio, we always stream www.radiodos.com....an oldie station here in the tropics...
please, what are you guys using for preamps, and why???
any suggestion about preamps would be greatly appreciated!!!!
take care....thanks
gene

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

You said something about your "Location" but didn't say where that was. Where are you?

 

[gene french]

You said something about your "Location" but didn't say where that was. Where are you?

1 km easte de escuela en san pedro de guayabo de bagaces, guanacaste, costa rica....50403
that is my physical as well as mailing address, believe it or not...
it says one kilometer east of the grammer school in san pedro of guayabo of bagaces in guanacaste province costa rica....
i am a bit south of the airport (45 minutes or so) in liberia costa rica....
been here since 2006......moved permanantly in 2007....

 

[J!m]

Digital input is no different than an analogue one. Pick a preamp you like, with enough inputs for your sources, and go!

I like my Perreaux; lower cost would be Aragon. But since you don’t need a phono preamp, any line amp will do.

 

[gene french]

i am trying not to get a cheap knockoff preamp ...
why im asking

 

[J!m]

Neither Perreaux or Aragon are cheap knock-offs.

Aragon is just Gone now but Perreaux is still at it. I have the SM6 preamp; they recently (within the last few years) released the SM6 Mk. II. It's class-A with balanced and single ended outputs, and one balanced input (designated for CD which you can switch between balanced or single ended for the CD inpout on the back panel)

Full resistor ladder for volume control (via remote).

 

[gene french]

great info....thanks so much for sharing your experiences...
great starting point to put something nice together for my needs...
my rig so far...
forgive the harsh lighting....is late afternoon here and that is a west facing window

 

[George S.]

Fuse your speakers if you haven't already until you upgrade the 400. Very nice looking.

 

[NeverSatisfied]

Very nice looking speakers.

 

[gene french]

a. i have written watts abundant to purchase the protect circuit...
he has not responded and i was warned he was very busy and be patient...
that will be my very first mod...
b. what size fuse should i use??
does it go in the positive or negative side??
or it doesnt matter ...
or do i fuse both positive and negative....
i will do that tomorrow....when i know about fuse size...
again....thanks for the newbie help!!!!

Very nice looking speakers.

you are very kind....thank you...and i appreciate your help!!!!

 

[Gepetto]

a. i have written watts abundant to purchase the protect circuit...
he has not responded and i was warned he was very busy and be patient...
that will be my very first mod...
b. what size fuse should i use??
does it go in the positive or negative side??
or it doesnt matter ...
or do i fuse both positive and negative....
i will do that tomorrow....when i know about fuse size...
again....thanks for the newbie help!!!!

you are very kind....thank you...and i appreciate your help!!!!

Either wire, does not matter which. Only one fuse.

 

[laatsch55]

Amperage depends what your speakers are good for. To start I would say 2 amp fast blow...

 

[gene french]

Amperage depends what your speakers are good for. To start I would say 2 amp fast blow...

that is what i will do...2 amps
woofer rated at 200
mid rated at 100
tweeter rated at 40 if i remember correctly...

Either wire, does not matter which. Only one fuse.

thank you so much!!!!

 

[gene french]

good morning everybody....hope all is good in your world...
well, i pulled the trigger...and ordered the cap kit, and light kit from joe...
and reconfirmed my order for the speaker protection upgrade...
for now, i will check out a recap kit for the 400c board...and of course i can always upgrade to the pl14/20 kit
if my plans fall through...i did ask joe about recapping the vintage board...
thanks again for all of your support and comments...
i am in several forums for advice on different projects...
this, is the best one...so many participate with varying ideas...
i am impressed....and thanks to all....keep up the good will!!!
this info will be gone in the not to distant future...it is good to see
some of us keeping it alive!!!

 

[AngrySailor]

i could not agree more.....kinda like starting an old sportster on a cold morning...lol

Yeah, it’s still winter here in Easter canuckistan and I was kicking my old shovel over a good few times a few days ago...

 

[laatsch55]

good morning everybody....hope all is good in your world...
well, i pulled the trigger...and ordered the cap kit, and light kit from joe...
and reconfirmed my order for the speaker protection upgrade...
for now, i will check out a recap kit for the 400c board...and of course i can always upgrade to the pl14/20 kit
if my plans fall through...i did ask joe about recapping the vintage board...
thanks again for all of your support and comments...
i am in several forums for advice on different projects...
this, is the best one...so many participate with varying ideas...
i am impressed....and thanks to all....keep up the good will!!!
this info will be gone in the not to distant future...it is good to see
some of us keeping it alive!!!

If you are going to keep the 400C and recap it, replace C8 with a 470uf, 25 volt electro cap. That will improve the bass rolloff point. Also read this..
https://forums.phxaudiotape.com/thr...-up-tendency-in-phase-linear-amplifiers.2307/

In your case, C6 that they arer referring to on the Pl14 board is C8 on yours...

 

[gene french]

any tips on where to find a quality cap kit or board rebuild for the 400c....
thank you so much i truly appreciate the lessons in electronics 101!!!
dont worry....i am taking notes...lol