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. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
