[Elecraft] KPA-500 Features and Pricing

[Jack Brabham]

  It looks like Elecraft may be abandoning their traditional "most bang 
for the buck" market position in favor of selling over priced "matching 
accessories" to stupid yuppies.

Unlike the K3, a $2000  500W amp is not going to be in the "best value" 
position in anyone's analysis, although I'm sure they will sell a few  
to the "true believers".

Currently, used  prices for ALS-600's run $800 to $900 and ALS-1300's 
are showing up for sale at $1800 to $2000.

In my case, there is a finite amount of money available for radio 
station enhancements.  When I can buy a solid state MFJ for ~$1.50/watt 
or an older no-tune ETO Alpha for ~$1.00/watt, a $4.00/watt Amp that's 
principal virtue seems to be matching my K3, doesn't have a snow balls 
chance in Hades of ever gracing my desk.

But maybe the rumored ridiculous price point is just a smoke screen and 
the real product will show up with a more palatible price.

73 Jack KZ5A
K3 #4165




On 9/8/2010 2:12 PM, K4SC wrote:
> After 45 years on the air, I'm finally getting an itch to bump my power over
> 100 watts; 500 - 600 watts seems like a reasonable amount of 75 meter power
> for me.  I'm seriously looking at amplifiers and tuners, but hesitant to
> make a purchase decision before getting at least some warm fuzzies about the
> KPA-500 pricing and availability.
>
> Been looking at a lot of new and used tube based amplifiers and 1KW tuners;
> getting the sense that I could spend upwards of $1500 for anything decent.
> If the KPA-500 is going to sell for close to that figure, or less of course,
> I can probably keep my money stashed and wait a few more months.  It sure
> would look nice next to the K3&  P3.
>
> If, however, the KPA-500 is going to cost much more than $1500, I will
> probably go the tube route.
>
> So, what I'm hoping to get from someone "in the know" is a ballpark figure
> on the KPA-500.  I assume the antenna tuner is built in, and not an
> additional cost.  If that isn't the case, then knowing the ATU cost would
> also be helpful.