These units needed help. Tuns out, a previous owner has Frankensteined parts from other units into both the PL4000 and its companion PL400 power amplifier. The new owner of these, a collector of vintage Phase Linear equipment, is fixing them now. Bob Carver founded Phase Linear in 1970. You can read the full Phase Linear story HERE.If you have any pictures, stories, or video clips of your Phase Linear 4000 or Phase Linear 400 units, please leave me a comment or send me an email.
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I'm not quite sure what you want to know or are interested in about the 4000 Autocorrelation Preamplifier. I have bought one in 1975 and used for app. 10 years.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have not used it since mid 80s, and now packed together. Well, I have disassambled and cleaned connectors and so, but haven't had serious troubles with the amplifier. Also I still have user maual, full service manual with schematics and a few reviews written in the mid 70s. I'm considering selling it
I recently acquired a Phase Linear 400 amp and and the 4000 preamp. The 400 amp worked just fine, but the 4000 preamp had many problems. Most were the 2.2ufd electro caps - almost all had very high ESR readings. I also had to replace the first preamp transistor in the left channel as it was distorting badly, but oddly only at low frequencies. There were also poor connection problems with the switches and some of the PCB sockets, but all were easily fixed after cleaning with non residue CRC contact cleaner.
ReplyDeleteIt's working fine now, and sounds just beautiful.
gjdaus@gmail.com
I bought a phase linear 4000 couple of years back. It's working perfectly with a yamaha M85 280 wpc rms driving cerwin.vega cls215+a nad 2100 power envelop driving pioneer cs 822a speakers as rears. Dont have the owners manual though and therefore a few questions about certain controls: 1. What is cartridge loading and how do the calibration screws at the back affect phono sound. 2. There seems to be no phono mc connectivity( am assuming the phono input is only for mm). 3. What does the pk unlimit control do exactly and how does the rotary knob work. 4. The corelation knob seems to control the high frequency cut off point. 4A. How does the lf cal screw affect the bass signal (seems to make it sporadic, abrupt and lifeless on one end and boomy on the other) . ALL IN ALL THE SOUND SEEMS TO BE LIFELESS WITH CORELATOR SWITCH ENGAGED WHICH SEEMS STRANGE FOR A PRODUCT HAVING AUTOCORRELATION AS ITS USP !! 5. What is 4 channelsq+logic (is it like qaudrophonic sound). 6.thare seems to be no loudness control (what is active equaliser and does it work in tandem with turnover frequency knobs or independent of it). 7. Lastly is this sonically a good preamp or just one full of gimmicks ( sounds extremely bright to me and the bass is not very impactful...no loudness boost control). WOULD APPRECIATE EDIFICATION /ENLIGHTENMENT ON ABOVE POINTS.
ReplyDeleteHi all,always famcied classic hi fi and now just purchased a beautiful pl400,pl4000 and match 5000 turner in mint condition and all refurbished!
ReplyDeleteI'll post some pics when i get it and set it up.
Any sugestions for speakers as i will be using klipsch heresy's.
Hi - I'm not a fan of Klipsch Heresy speakers, as the horn doesn't reproduce music to my liking. That being said, many people love these speakers. I always seem to point people to Vandersteen speakers and DCM Timeframes. You can pick up a pair of DCM Timeframe 600 or 1000 (TF600 or TF1000) VERY reasonably. Paired with a decent subwoofer, these reproduce most music very well. Vandersteen speakers are a little harder to come by, but are very good. Watch out for the 2C or 2, as these have foam surrounds which would need replacing. The 2Ci and 2Ce, and of course the 3, 3a, and 3a Signature are exceptional speakers. Hope this helps! Have fun with your Phase Linear gear!
DeleteI'm trying to locate a PL4000 preamp for my system. I'm also looking for some things like a Carver/Phase tuner and click/pop (turntable) filter and either an ADC Sound Shaper 3 Paragraphic EQ or equivalent. If anyone has such components they'd like to trade off, please let me know; I've got a QSC CX6T power amp I'll trade, as well as a nice Pioneer champagne-series reverb amp. I've been looking for this pre for some years now, and I hope someone can help!
ReplyDeleteChuck
cmk59@yahoo.com
I have a Phase Linear 4000 and a Phase Linear 400 power amp, The 400, I still use. I bought them new in 19?? The 4000 stopped working. Problem started with what gave the symptoms of loose connections. Last time I tried, looked like over voltage being sent to the amp. The amplifier survived, but I have not been game to try again. I would really like to have it repaired, but I realize this isn't going to happen, since I am in Australia and any hope would all be in the USA.
ReplyDeleteFor repair in OZ try Ian Rumbold at Sound Developments in Melbourne. Ph: 0394193251
DeleteGood luck.
Does anyone still work on these if they need a little tlc ? I have (2) 400 power amps and a 4000. have no issues but a fuse wire that needs s little love. They still sound and work great !!!!!! Does anyone know what they are worth these days ? Thanks
ReplyDeleteI have four new Phase Linear amps that I bought from the estate of a guy who I think was a dealer in the 1970s. Two 400 series 1 amps and two 700 series 1 amps. All in walnut cases. Looking for a collector that wants them.
ReplyDeleteEmail for pix and more details: praisedarwin@gmail.com
What fuse do these models need for replacement?
ReplyDelete