[Elecraft] Elecraft Amplifiers and KPA 1500!!!!

[Doug Turnbull]

Dear OMs and YLs,
     As we are allowed to run 1500W for contesting in EI, I am fortunate in
old age to own an SPE Expert 2kFA, Acom 1000 and Acom 2000A.   They all have
advantages and drawbacks.   Acom and SPE both build to a high standard and
in my experience are most reliable.   The Acom 1000 is perhaps the very best
buy in a non-automatic self tune vacuum tube amp.   The Acom 2000A is a
beautiful auto-tune and runs quietly but waiting for it to warm up takes a
long time!   

     The SPE Expert 2KFA is solid state and instant on.   It is a great
except for two things:
1)This is a very noisy amplifier and I wonder if this is not a problem with
most solid state amps.   Cooling is critical to keep junction temperatures
down.   The noise problem remains even if running on the 600 Watt power
level at the 400 Watts allowed in EI for non contest QSOs.   I can not
operate with the SPE unless wearing headphones preferably ones with good
noise rejection.

2) If one runs the SPE 2kFA without the built in automatic ATU then even
with an SWR of around 1.5/1.6 you will create terrible distortion on either
SSB or CW.   This distortion will quickly make you unpopular on the bands.
One must be careful of this.   Dropping the power level does not seem to
solve this problem.   Of course it has a good internal automatic tuner which
works wonderfully so if you use the tuner there is no problem.   A multiband
antenna which did not require a tuner normally but did on one band could
prove slightly problematic.   You would need to change it over to another of
the six antenna output connectors and use the built in auto-tuner.

     I must say something else in favour of the SPE it does not excessively
heat the room while having the Acom 2000A in use is like having Wayne's
daughter's electric heater on.  The SPE is definitely more efficient when it
comes to power consumption.

    I am an almost fanatical Elecraft user but do not own a KPA500 as I saw
no point.   A KPA 1500 would certainly interest me but I wonder if it would
not be priced at too high a level for my pocket.   Alphas do not appear to
be overpriced but these days have a poor reputation in Europe.  This
surprises me but is the case.   I have at times seriously considered Alpha
and backed off because of the advice of friends whose opinion I value.

    Ameritron amps also get bad press but seem to do the job for relatively
little money.   I have a friend with an old Ameritron who is still very fond
of it and would not part even though he now also owns an Acom 1010.   So the
lower cost alternative continues to fill a need.

    My friends with KPA 500 amplifiers are all fond of them and have nothing
negative to say though I am told on air by some others that the KPA 500 is
not so quiet.   However the EI Elecraft guru EI6IZ says that the KPA 500 is
quiet.   Not having used one I can not say.   No one seems to be selling
their KPA 500.   Some of us really want it to be as quiet as a library.

    Before you purchase an amplifier try using one of visit a ham with one.
Consider noise, turn on time, distortion, reliability, band coverage, power
efficiency and your pocket book.   If you are an old goat like me with a
fragile back think of weight as well.   The KPA 1300 looks good for
DXpeditions as of course does the KPA 500 which has been so popular of late.

    Elecraft is first class in all respects.   Design, service and support
are just unbeatable.    We are fortunate that they exist and have brought
higher standards to our hobby.   I suppose a KPA 1500 would have me
drooling.

                    73 Doug EI2CN  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
john at kk9a.com
Sent: 20 February 2016 18:02
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500

It would likely cost over $10,000 like the Ohio based Dishtronix Prometheus
and I do hear of many stations using them. Solid State amps typically do not
handle high SWR well so if produced a KAT-1500 would be nice accessory. I am
happy with my KPA-500/KAT-500 and the rest is an unlikely dream.

John KK9A

>From Greg n4cc at windstream.net
Sat Feb 20 12:24:29 EST 2016
Previous message (by thread): [Elecraft] KPA1500

Everything you say about Elecraft is speculation, Ken.  You don't know what
it would cost them to produce the amp.  My speculation is that they could do
a better job than SPE -- if they chose to do it.  How many would they sell?
Who knows?  The ham population is growing older fast and a lot of us old
codgers can "afford" a new amp of that caliber.  I have nothing against
Ameritron amps...happen to own one myself...in addition to three Alphas and
the KPA500 -- so no I don't "need" a KPA1500.  But I would buy one just
because I know the integration with the K3 and quality that would go into it
would be fantastic -- not to mention that it would be from an American
manufacturer with the best service in the industry.  Furthermore, Elecraft
is competing quite successfully against competition so I disagree that they
would be "killed" by the amp competition.  Alpha used to be the "Cadillac"
but the company has deteriorated significantly.  Acom and OM Power represent
competition but neither one has a full bore solid state 1500 watt amp with
headroom...Ameritron is OK but not the same craftsmanship or quality of
Elecraft.

My original question to Wayne or Eric was how many people putting money down
would it take for Elecraft to produce such an amp.  It's strictly a business
decision that only they can make.  All the speculation in the world on this
reflector is not worth the email it is printed on...

73, Greg-N4CC

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