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<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Free market feedback...bring back the
>>>> 1500 watt amp! 73 de Greg-N4CC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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