PL400 Series 2 Build

[laatsch55]

Love the Allen heads for tranny bolts...

 

[Bob Boyer]

That's a beautiful job, Eric. Great work.

Edit deleting question - going to start a new thread for it.

 

[Hexis22]

Eric, you made the right choice of not wiring the attenuators.
I marvel at how much more precise the treble is in my system with them bypassed.

I have no need for independent channel attenuators in my current audio systems, but left them in place if that changes in the future.

Just something about additional wiring complexity combined with oxidizing resistive elements over time, I didn't want to deal with on this build.

I considered replacing the pots with power indicator LED's, similar to yours, but stayed with a simple approach of adding Black knobs.

 

[Hexis22]

One additional update, added rubber feet to the bottom so the amp is not resting on the face plate and tearing up shelving every time it's moved.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

All wiring complete for the Cylon LED meter boards.

Added 2 X 22awg purple wires to fused B- and a Black Ground wire from the bus bar up to the meters on the left and Red/White speaker signal wires up the right side.

Lots of room in this new chassis from White Oak.

Nice, but I still don't like to run AC wires together with the rest. I keep the ac separate.

 

[Hexis22]

Nice, but I still don't like to run AC wires together with the rest. I keep the ac separate.

I agree, my desire to finish and start listening to music got the best of me. Although, I have yet to detect an audible issue with the current meter wire arrangement. The sound quality, level of detail, and dead quiet background is beyond my expectation

If I ever open it back up I will most likely rewire all non AC up around the top of the meters. I don’t think it’s necessary, but knowing it could be better will eat at me every time I look at the amp.

Do you have a reference picture of how you approached wiring up Cylon meters on a 400? I struggled with how to get both the Ground and rail B- wires to the meters without bundling with the AC feed.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

I agree, my desire to finish and start listening to music got the best of me. Although, I have yet to detect an audible issue with the current meter wire arrangement. The sound quality, level of detail, and dead quiet background is beyond my expectation

If I ever open it back up I will most likely rewire all non AC up around the top of the meters. I don’t think it’s necessary, but knowing it could be better will eat at me every time I look at the amp.

Do you have a reference picture of how you approached wiring up Cylon meters on a 400? I struggled with how to get both the Ground and rail B- wires to the meters without bundling with the AC feed.

I run the 400 II's just like I run the 700 II's. Basically the same amp. It does matter, we've all seen the results on the test stations. The THD+N drops significantly.

 

[Hexis22]

Listened to music all day confirming this amp pairs well with other components in my system, very happy with the end result and overall performance.

Absolutely love the sound, looks, and sense of accomplishment completing this level of project.

From personal experience, you could easily spend more than 3 times the cost of this amp and not achieve this level of performance.

 

[laatsch55]

It'll stand toe to toe with the best as far as sound quality goes. Build a 700 and you can stand toe to toe with the big boys then. The Brystons, Rowlands, SAE's, Denon's, Crown's....I've had em all in the cave going head to head...,wiped some McIntosh ass in Az too...

 

[George S.]

Sniff brought up a good point about the yellow and orange AC accessory wires needing to be separately bundled.
I reviewed my 700 Pro build, and saw that I did indeed separate them, but did not do so on the 400's.
So I opened the first 400 up this morning and did so.
There are now three bundles going to the meters. The yellow and orange AC wires. The purple B- wires and black ground. The red and white meter signal wires.
Thanks Sniff. Now going to do the other 400.
Listening to The Walkabouts.

 

[Hexis22]

Gotta keep em SEPARATED...

 

[gene french]

looks really nice!!!

 

[George S.]

Sure does! Plenty of space in that WOAD chassis. He could even add a 1/2" standoff and space that control board out some.
Got my second 400 done. Look at the space between the DCP relay and the meter mode switch. Tight!

 

[gene french]

Sure does! Plenty of space in that WOAD chassis. He could even add a 1/2" standoff and space that control board out some.
Got my second 400 done. Look at the space between the DCP relay and the meter mode switch. Tight!

most guys prefer tight....well...i cant speak for most guys .
lol

 

[Gepetto]

Sure does! Plenty of space in that WOAD chassis. He could even add a 1/2" standoff and space that control board out some.
Got my second 400 done. Look at the space between the DCP relay and the meter mode switch. Tight!

The WOA chassis kit comes with longer screws and spacers for the control board support.

 

[Hexis22]

It'll stand toe to toe with the best as far as sound quality goes. Build a 700 and you can stand toe to toe with the big boys then. The Brystons, Rowlands, SAE's, Denon's, Crown's....I've had em all in the cave going head to head...,wiped some McIntosh ass in Az too...

My current main system incorporates a Bryston 4BSST 300W X 2 true dual mono amp (dual supplies).

In my relatively small listening room, the PL400 holds its own extremely well. I hope to experience a 700B in the future.

Honestly, I have a hard time justifying the 3X cost of the Bryston based on sound performance alone. Although, the housing and internal design is built like a tank with a 20 year warranty.

 

[laatsch55]

Had a 4BST....was not impressed...

 

[J!m]

I would skip Bryson and go straight to Benchmark as long as you can properly support the balanced inputs.

 

[Hexis22]

Or… build a 700B and continue enjoying this hobby.

Benchmark does look interesting, lots of good information on their site.

 

[J!m]

Wyn, who designed my phono preamp, hipped me to them and I just might replace my Counterpoint amps with those. I like the Counterpoint amps but they are noisy (in comparison).