[Elecraft] Amp power per $$ spreadsheet download

[Igor Sokolov]

IMHO this is apple/orange comparison.

1) All of the Expert amps are solid state AND automatic and this comparison 
does not account for that.
2) USD/WATT is more informative then USD/dB_over_100W. USD/dB_of_gain would 
be...
3) If weight of the amp is put into the table then Expert will be clear 
winner on all accounts.
4) Features like built in SO2R and ability to operate on any mains voltage 
from 100V to 260V are not found in any other amp but sure add a lot value 
for money.

73, Igor UA9CDC

P.S. I have used my K3 with Expert 1K-FA for 6 years and now use my KX3 and 
K3 with Expert 1.3K-FA (5W in 1kW out). Will anybody try to persuade me that 
there is better value for money then Expert.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Brown" <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2015 2:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amp power per $$ spreadsheet download


> On Sat,4/25/2015 7:35 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
>> Good job, Nick.  I didn't realize my AL-811H was so cost effective. Sure 
>> is a royal PITA to use, though. I'll give it away to someone local who 
>> will use it -- no way I will deal with shipping the beast.
>
> I modified the spreadsheet a bit and re-sorted it. First, since we here in 
> the US are permitted only 1,500W, I set max power for those amps with 
> higher power ratings to that value. Second, just as Nick has included his 
> used Alpha 99, I added my used Ten Tec Titan 425s.
>
> k9yc.com/PwrAmpdB.png
>
> There are many features and properties of power amps that go far beyond 
> pure dB per dollar.  some examples:
>
> The ACOM 1010 is a reasonably compact competitor to the KPA500, but it 
> doesn't cover 6M. I bought one used from K6SRZ (to have another amp for 
> CQP), who bought a KPA500 just to get 6M. Also, my occupied bandwidth 
> tests show that the KPA500 is a bit cleaner than that ACOM 1010. And the 
> 1010 is a single-voltage amp. It must be rewired to change it. The KPA500 
> can be switched by removing, rotating, and reinserting the fuse block 
> built into the power plug.
>
> The ACOM 1000 does cover 6M. Both it and the 1010 have manual antenna 
> tuners built in. Some of these amplifiers have built-in tuners, some of 
> those tuners are automatic or have memories. Some of these amps are much 
> better built than others. My Ten Tec Titans use high quality vacuum relays 
> with logic to prevent hot-switching, as do the Alphas. The Ameritron amps 
> I've seen use much cheaper open-frame relays, so their switching is much 
> slower.
>
> My Titans are quite clean -- P3 measurements of both the KPA500 and the 
> Titan look exactly like the K3 at the drive level required for rated 
> power. But the Titans, like the lower cost ACOMs, are "manual everything.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
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