Tube Vs Solid State Amp Comparison (

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Ron, N5AUA, Is wondering which is better a solid state amp or a tube amp. Watch to learn more about the pros and cons of each.
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Опубликовано:

29 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 39

@chublez Год назад

LDMOS is the way forward, I think.

@g0fvt Год назад

LDMOS amplifiers are probably the way forward, but there are some bargains to be had with ""old school" amplifiers too. The video mentions Class-A but of course most of our amplifiers operate in Class-AB.

@davekiernan1 Год назад

Thats ogsponsive.

@jamescouture775 Год назад

I will stick with my tube amp it will take much more abuse then any solid state and is much easier to fix if it brakes. Good old 3-500z tubes are cheaper and easy to get. A set of transistors for a high power amp will cost more then the $500 a pair of 3-500z tubes. If you have ever changed power transistors you would know that's no easy task.

@rbh1151 Год назад

Another great video, Dave! Thank you from N7RLV. I have an Elecraft kpa500 and matching tuner that I picked up used. It works well and gives me a nice bump in power. I find I seldom bother to turn it on any more. The band conditions are so good recently that I can easily work DX on 100 watts, and sometimes even work DX qrp just for kicks. This is using an endfed 104 foot wire hung from trees fed through a 9:1 unun. I have more fun hunting for approachable stations rather than being the loudest signal in a pile up.

@gahvno Год назад

Interesting that Dave appears to have missed mentioning the Mercury 3 amp. 1.2kw ssb on 120v. That thing is a piece of art and only $2700 so you don't have to sell a leg to get one. The only downside is that there is currently a one-year wait on the list. For the quality, features, excellent customer service, and price, it's not surprising.

@adamwhite3584 Год назад

Don't overlook a few of the "Free band" amp builders.. a few will build band switching and filtration into them. They even use LDMOS.

@glenmartin2437 Год назад

I don't have an amp and my neighbors are already complaining about lights dimming and outages. I think I will forgo an amp. N0QFT

@ericdee6802 Год назад

Penta labs is providing some fantastic 3-500z's right now, although they are Chinese, Penta labs has been putting a warranty behind these tubes, the are manufactured with a great deal of quality control believe it or not.

@eddy2561 Год назад

I ran many years the Ameritron 80A with pi tuning and it was a workhorse! Downsizing forced me to sell the amp, but it also forced me to become a more skilled op - a work in progress...HI HI 73/K6SDW

@jimhammer2638 8 месяцев назад

I wouldn't TOUCH anything made by MFJ or the companies they have acquired. Their QC has become so bad, that many distributors don't even want to sell their products anymore because of all the returns. I took a chance on one of their SWR meters and sure enough, it was defective. MFJ is the perfect anacronym for what they've been selling.

@skaboosh 5 месяцев назад

Thanks for the video. Is it normal for me to see over 70 volts AC in my Gallien-Krueger 250ml circuit and on the effects send and return?

@marionmc1 4 месяца назад

LDMOS all the way. Palstar LA-1A with matching tuner

@h2osmokey Год назад

How did you wire the 500m to power supply with all the red + leads?

@markruby2434 11 месяцев назад

they may be different beasts but the end result is the same

@ronjoseph7973 9 месяцев назад

Anything more than 600 watts PEP is diminishing returns. The difference between 100 and 500 watts is 1 S unit. The difference between 500 and 1500 watts is approximately another S unit. In addition to the expense of a 1 to 1.5K amp is the need for a 240v outlet which can cost upwards of 1K depending on your home wiring. Solid state amps are also heavier due to the heat sinks for the unit. The advantage is SS amps don’t need to be tuned and have fault detection for input, SWR, and temperature excesses. Most of the operators that use amps opt for the Ameritron 811H, 800W tube amp for about $1400 less tax and 10/12 meter mod. Tubes are readily available and reasonably priced.

@Brenda-jf2pe 11 дней назад

Exactly correct the math is correct , I.e. 500 watts is all you need! Good old 811 three tubers! JohnBoyUtah KJ7TBR😎🇺🇸📡🎙

@Brenda-jf2pe 11 дней назад

I got a Ameritron 811 three tuber from my Elmer built in 2008, for 400 bucks! On my QRZ page JohnBoyUtah KJ7TBR! Dave is ok , Antennas in Utah with high wind big problem, canyon winds.

@michaelpolimer2128 Год назад

I earned my living designing solid state high power military power electronics used to drive microwave tubes.....I know high power semiconductor devices, therefore I have three "pair of 3-500Z" amps in my shack. A Raytrack I bought in 1973, used it for 5 years and carefully packed it away, unwrapped it abt 4 years ago when I got back on the low bands, new filter caps and rectifiers, a carefull Variac run up and then some "cherry red plate" gettering (de-gassing) and works like new, with the original Eimac bottles. I also run a monoband SB-220 on 6 meters and have a Drake L4-B as "backup" ...........73 from Boston, Mike K1FNX

@donz7992 Год назад

I just picked up a used Ameritron AL-572 Amplifier that claims it is 1,300 Watts. Runs off 110V but needs a dedicated 20A circuit. I have a 40M dipole and then have a 102' end fed with a 1500W 9:1 unun. I thought I heard that I do need a tuner, and then I don't need a tuner as the output network will match the antenna. Which is it? I do have a lead on 3 different 1,200 W + tuners but two of them were designed in the 1970s. (The owner wants to "thin his herd.") I think I should probably pick up one of them but I am tempted to evaluate the amp without a tuner first (at reduced power, of course.)

@86casimir Год назад

There are also the ACOMs (I have a 1010) but it is true that with the events in Ukraine, if I ever have to change the tube, it may be long and difficult. Another great instructional video. Thanks Dave. 73/F8MGW

@BartVanAllen Год назад

Good one Dave - And you are right, work on the antennas first. Cheaper and it helps reception as well as transmission. Then the amp if needed. I have an old Heathkit SB200 that works fine business, and it goes with the old HK HW101, but also use it on the Yaesu. You said you use the Ameritron at 600 watts - doable but much longer finals life if kept below 500 watts, the same as most other solid state amps. AA7VA

@cornbread-KO5RN Год назад

DAVE IS 100% RIGHT HIGHT IS MIGHT WITH A GOOD AREAL,EXCELLENT TRANSMITTING AND RECEPTION, and a AMP. Doesn’t hurt.

@nicksparozic9924 Год назад

Nick AA3WA I purchased a solid state Mercury IIIs amp and AT from KM3KM These units are attractively priced but there may be a wait to get them. i am VERY pleased with their operation.

@mikezagorsky Год назад

Any hope of using class D amplification for HF like MW commercial transmitters are doing?

@AdamosDad Год назад

Penta Labs make excellent tubes in the US, Europe and Asia. I choose to run an ALS 500M but also have an older tube amp.

@cidcolead1115 Год назад

Tube amps are great in the winter. If you want more power out, start with a better antenna, as Dave says, match the antenna first. Why waste your precious signal heating up an expensive tuner?

@patrickbuick5459 Год назад

I want to run an amp off of DC. Up to 48VDC when I get my online solar system going.

@davidmilledge221 Год назад

I'm told tube amps are making a come back in the music world is because tube amps have a deeper rich smoother base sound

@davidc5027 Год назад

I hear Palstar la-1k is a great amplifier as well.

@ChrisCookTech Год назад

I have this amp it’s amazing it pairs great with their ATU too.

@glenmartin2437 Год назад

Thank you, Dave. A great video. N0QFT

@VE2FET Год назад

Love my fully transistor IC-PW1…

@chublez Год назад

A 220 circuit is one more hot wire off the other leg vs 110. If you can run one there's no reason to think you can't run the other.

@chublez Год назад

If you're truly afraid of the hook up. You can pull the wire, set the boxes and have a sparky do final hook up. Depending on the run length this could save you lots of labor and you might find a smaller shop that will cut a deal for such a simple job.

@FjHenderson Год назад

Acom are awesome amplifiers.

@AC3HT Год назад

Thanks!

@d3w4yn3 Год назад

I have the same conversation about guitar amps! Of course, different aspects here, guitarists don't care about 50 ohms or not. Another great video, very educational, as usual!!!