The only SS amp I know of to fulfill the HF+6 "US legal limit" requirement is the forthcoming SPE 2K-FA. I don't believe FCC certification is yet complete, but according to SPE, availability is the second half of 2010 to the rest of the world. SPE's literature places a target price of EUR 4,650, or USD $6,050 as of today's exchange rate.
Having owned several high-end VT amps as well as the SPE-1K SS amp, I likely will not own another SS amp until: (1) IMD performance improves to be on-par with the best VT amps (although SPE appears to be one of the better low-IMD amps); (2) output power remains absolutely stable with PA temperature; (3) more advanced, low noise cooling methods are developed; and (4) better design attention paid to the QSK system. Paul, W9AC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <li...@subich.com> To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 12:15 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 > > Jack, > > > The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant > > niches, MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a > > herd of companies duking it out over the high end market. > > The one vacant market niche - and one Elecraft appear to have avoided - > is the US "Legal Limit" solid state segment. There are literally > dozens of 500 - 600 watt solid state amps and several good products > at the 1000 W PEP level but there is nothing that covers 160 - 6 > at 1500 W CW/RTTY. > > I suppose that begs the question whether there is a market for such > an amplifier considering that the $/W tend to be higher for solid > state amplifiers than tube amplifiers of comparable power levels. > I have my feelings but since it isn't my R&D or marketing dollars on > the line, they're not particularly important. > > 73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > On 9/10/2010 11:57 AM, Jack Brabham wrote: >> Lew, >> >> Except for issues related to physical size, most of your rationale for >> not producing a 2KW amp seems equally applicable to a 500W amp. >> >> The K3, from a marketing perspective, played into a vacant market >> niche. The Japanese companies had focused on low-end, how cheap can >> we make it radios or over-priced bloated barges for the money is no >> object crowd. >> >> There is still nothing out there that is competitive with the K3 on a >> price/performance basis. >> >> The amp market on the other hand doesn't seem to have any vacant niches, >> MFJ has the low end and mid-range covered and there are a herd of >> companies duking it out over the high end market. >> >> There also doesn't seem to be much technical performance differentiation >> between the low, mid, and high end amps on the market today. The >> dollars/watt number for any particular brand seems to be mostly driven >> by how fancy a box the amp is packaged in. >> >> So, I'm thinking that if Elecraft is determined to get into the amp >> market the KPA500 will hit most of the product differentiators >> available. It matches the K3 appearance and size, maintains the high >> portability factor, and can claim some technical innovation for the >> built-in PS. >> >> Considering that the principal product differentiators are only germane >> to K3 owners maybe the intended market is primarily "existing K3 >> owners", rather than the general amp market. No doubt that will be >> where the Lion's share of the sales go in any case. >> >> Maybe the next Elecraft amp will be something more powerful with an >> external PS but still in the K3 box, that would be interesting. >> >> 73 Jack KZ5A >> >> >> >> >> On 9/10/2010 8:57 AM, Lew Phelps K6LMP wrote: >>> I think some of the folks who are calling for gigawatt amplifiers (ok, >>> full legal limit...) are losing focus on one key fact: Elecraft has >>> prospered by making products that SOME hams want that NOBODY else makes. >>> The K3 is a perfect example: an exquisite transceiver, quite arguably >>> the best available at any price if you're not a fan of big boxes with >>> big buttons. It's portable, can be expanded incrementally with modules >>> to meet any operator's specific needs, and it's 'way up in the upper >>> right hand corner of the value scatter graph (price on one axis, >>> performance on the other). >>> >>> So, what could Elecraft bring to the 2KW amplifier market that would (a) >>> differentiate it from the others and (b)stay within the general confines >>> of the K3 "style", which means compact, efficient, modular >>> expandability, and (probably) fit within the K3 form factor. >>> >>> You cannot build a 2KW amplifier that meets those criteria. Modular? >>> Yes; you could make the power supply and an auto-tuner modular add-ons. >>> Efficient? Yes. Compact? No. K3 form factor? Not a chance. For >>> example, the Alpha 2KW amplifier measures 17.5w x 78.5h x 19.75d. It >>> weighs well over 50 lbs. It costs $5000. There is no way to build a >>> large-output amp that will fit within the K3 form factor. the physical >>> size of components needed to handle that power makes it impossible. >>> >>> So, some on this list essentially are asking Elecraft to step outside >>> its well-defined and highly successful approach to the market and build >>> a "me too" legal limit amplifier that Elecraft could not meaningfully >>> distinguish from the competition, except for the nameplate. Amplifiers >>> are not that complex, compared to the K3. That lack of complexity is >>> exactly why this is not a market in which Elecraft could compete >>> successfully. There's no way to meaningfully differentiate its 2KW amp >>> from others, except for the nameplate. Yes, they would "include" their >>> superb customer support as a product feature. But I don't think they >>> could bring enough differentiation from the Alpha, Tokyo Hygain, and >>> other high end amplifiers already on the market to break into that >>> market at a volume that would support design and production costs. >>> >>> The folks in Aptos DO understand the market. They are listening, and >>> watching this dialogue. We can keep that process productive by not >>> asking Elecraft to come out with a product that breaks the laws of >>> physics. It's a small company, with limited design resources. Let's all >>> encourage them to focus on new products that realistically fit within >>> the Elecraft market niche. >>> >>> my 3 cents worth (inflation, you know...) >>> >>> Lew K6LMP >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:33 PM, Wes Stewart wrote: >>> >>>> Right, 500W is hardly worthwhile. Make it at least 2KW PEP. Got to >>>> make up for the tuner and coax losses and to live on RTTY. >>>> >>>> --- On Thu, 9/9/10, Greg<n...@cableone.net> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Free market feedback...bring back the >>>>> 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> Elecraft mailing list >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>>> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
