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Volume Control on Phase Linear 4000

R

rocketrob

PL Enthusiast
Greetings, first time poster...

I have been piecing together a Phase Linear system and I finally have all of the components and hooked them up. The PL 4000 preamp volume control seems to be bad. I tried sparying it with some contact cleaner but I think the problem is beyond just cleaning it. It makes a very loud crackle/pop when you turn it past 1/4 turn or so.

Is it possible to replace this part and if so, where would one look for the replacement part? I have a sooldering gun and I am not afraid to use it.

I have factory service manuals coming for both the 4000 and the 700B amp so it will hopefully help me if I decide to venture inside the units.

Thanks in advance for any help and guidance.

Rob
 
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Alot of folks use the Deoxit products to clean pots, I have had more success by taking the pot apart and really give it a good cleaning. The problem could be in the mother board solder joints, I recaped and resoldered the boards, cleaned all the pots in my 4000 preamp.Now it sounds really good and was worth the time and trouble to restore. Good luck with your Phase
 
Awesome, thanks. I just received a service manual with instructions on how to disassemble the unit - now I will have something to do this weekend.
 
And the next weekend, and the next one. The inside is full of edge connectors and bad solder joints, besides the 3000 Ser II, quite possibly the worst pre-amp phase built. It'll take a lot of tedious, repetitive work but they can be fixed, how long they'll stay that way is the question....


BTW--- if a 3300 Ser II pops up for sale anywhere near you, grab it, with a relatively simple recap and 4 new op-amps they sound ALMOST as good as my Spec 1's, in fact damn close.
 
Do you have a 700B.? You might consider the White Oak driver board----http://forums.phxaudiotape.com/showthread.php/2375-Kevin-s-quot-I-Want-a-Phase-Linear-700-B-White-Oaked-quot-thread
 
Thanks, I did take a look. I am going to take a peek inside after I finish with the PL 4000. It may have been upgraded as I purchased it from someone on Audiogon who had rebuilt it at some point.

As an aside, is there an optimal process for "fixing" bad solder joints?

Thanks again for the help and advice, Rob
 
If they're ugly, desolder then resolder. If you reflow what is there only, the chances of rosin or other corrosion affecting the joint are pretty good. If you decide to reflow only, clean the solder side opf thbe board with acetone, let dry then try it.
 
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