Author |
Message |
Hotwire
Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 60 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 12:53 pm: |
|
Wow this amp is smokin!!! Wish I found one sooner. Anybody else tried one? Cobra sure makes one heck of a linear. It has 4 power levels. Low only uses bout 5 amps and max uses 25 amps. I would recomend very much so. |
Troublemaker
Member Username: Troublemaker
Post Number: 81 Registered: 2-2004
| Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 1:11 pm: |
|
where did you find it at? |
1861
Member Username: 1861
Post Number: 74 Registered: 2-2004
| Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 3:47 pm: |
|
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MYSELF , BEEN TRYING TO FIND WHERE I CAN BUY A COBRA 450XL |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 444 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 10:12 pm: |
|
cobra xl350 uses 2-2sc2879's, or 2x120=240 watts. cobra xl450 uses 4xmrf455's or 4x60=240 watts. hmmm. 350 has 25db gain preamp, 450 has 30 db gain preamp. does 2 extra transistors & 5 extra db gain of noise justify the $30 price difference? my preference would be a texas star dx350 for $20 more then the 350xl, but if anybody's got their heart set on the cobra amps, i'd go for the 350xl & it's 2879 transistors. |
Hotwire
Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 67 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 11:18 am: |
|
I scan the shops all the time looking for rare radios classics and just good deals. I found this Cobra at a shop in Indianapolis next to a truck stop. He has one more that I will pick up this weekend if he still has it.Thanks for the info Patzerozero. It does have a nice preamp. If I hear somebody at 1 s-unit the preamp will take them up to about 7-9 s-units higher, honest. This little dude is one of the loudest linears I ever heard. B.T.W. Using it as a base. Last night I was on ch21 and called out my hanle and callsighn. People were coming in from all over Indiana. I made a 50 mile ground wave contact no sweat. Needless to say on SSB the performance was remarkable. All these flowers for Valentines day, hahaha |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 455 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 1:39 pm: |
|
i talk 60 miles mobile to mobile with less then 100 watt deadkey, thru the hash & trash of nyc...AM quality not quantity |
Waterboy
Junior Member Username: Waterboy
Post Number: 14 Registered: 7-2003
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 9:33 pm: |
|
Here on LI. Mabe at 300AM. I use alot more watts than that and its some time hard to talk 10 miles! DONT EVER SELL THAT BOX!! |
Hotwire
Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 70 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 1:08 am: |
|
I agree Patzerozero. I hear you New Yorkers all the time it seems. I also believe location plays a part. Notice you are at higher elevation than Indiana. Come to Indiana in these flat miles of cornfields and see what I mean. If I can just get my antenna a little higher.Then again even here I have made 30 mile contacts mobile to mobile with a 20 watt radio. Early mornings that is. Very impressive Patzerozero...very impressive indeed |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 468 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 3:52 pm: |
|
i'm at exactly sea level, hotwire, parked out on the edge of the water sometimes, so my elevation can't really be much higher then yours! and my mobile antenna is about 10.5 feet to its tip! waterboy, i'm south shore, central suffolk, talk to lt columbo by the brooklyn bridge, john henry brooklyn, old man's motor van staten island, big 5 war wagon NJ, big boss in the mobile in CT, rico's mobile in CT, mr wilson RI. they can pull me out with 100 watts. daytime, 26.835 AND (sometimes) channel 6. with skip.at 3AM i can talk to atlantic city & massachusetts. am using 200-250 dead key bird watts now. can talk better over that 60 mile distance then before when the skip is rolling, only problem is the skip wants to jump into our conversations all the time. |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 112 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 10:32 am: |
|
I learned long ago, when New Yorkers are talking local, nothing aggravates them more than skipshooters butt'in on there conversing. Still I have heard alot of professionals there who inform them kindly to standby. |
Patzerozero
Intermediate Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 476 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 10:32 pm: |
|
when the skip covers up our local conversations, we just turn up the big box. actually, though, i'm trying to talk dx more then local anyway. it's just when there's no skip, somebody local wants to talk to you. |
Bluegrass
Intermediate Member Username: Bluegrass
Post Number: 156 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 8:23 am: |
|
Wait a minute, Cobra makes amps? |
Tech808
Moderator Username: Tech808
Post Number: 4951 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 10:31 am: |
|
Sorry but NO Cobra Radios is not making amplifiers. Someone just liked the name Cobra and decided to stick on the amplifiers they make. Lon Tech808 CEF808 N9OSN
|
Bluegrass
Intermediate Member Username: Bluegrass
Post Number: 161 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2005 - 9:02 am: |
|
Is that legal?Sounds like copyright infringement to me. |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 12:14 pm: |
|
About a year ago I was surfing the web for amps and came upon a site in another country. The whole site was in French except for the word Cobra on the amps they were selling. They had several models of Cobra all the way up to 1200 watts. It even has the nice little coiled pic of a cobra! I dont know Lon. These amps sure are built really nice and look more like a car stereo amp. I figured since these amps are illegal in the states that cobra made them for export. Kinda like the 148 export. Since external amps are legal for 11 meters ( I THINK) correct me if wrong) in other countrys couldnt Cobra have made them? possible? They are just built so durable. Like my Galaxy amp. It has sharp edges that can cut you open bad and just doesnt feel like a real heavy durable amp. The Cobra on the other hand is heavy like a brick and the case is a premiem made housing. Like I said it looks like it could be a stereo amp. I'm not trying to dog on anybodys expertice. I'm just putting up a little bit of debate. respectfully, Kenny |
Bc910
Intermediate Member Username: Bc910
Post Number: 362 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 2:03 pm: |
|
There is some strange Cobra stuff out there. The other day I was on one of the auction sites and saw a 148 export. I hadn't seen this exact one before. It was black, had a band switch am/fm/ssb, but no freq counter and (if I remember correctly) the mic plug was in the front. Also the mic was the stock mic to that radio and looked ABSOLUTELY like no other Cobra stock mic I had ever seen! I would bet that there is at least a possibility that Cobra makes stuff soley for export and being that Cobra is a pretty law biding, reputable company, I would immagine that that is why all that stuff is so hard to find in the states. I mean I know I had never seen that radio EVER! And a Cobra amp? Never seen one of those either! Just a thought BC |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 132 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 10:23 am: |
|
Hey Bc I have seen that radio too. Kinda resembles a connex. My opinion Cobra makes some of the best stuff out there. I'm trying to post a pic of the amp but when I do the forum says its to big. Maybe if I try a regular camera and not my digital camera. Take a regular pic, have it developed and then scan it to my computer. Maybe that will work? SHEESH! The pic is no bigger than your pet monkey pic.......or is that the guy who does your radio work? Just being silly Bc. Have a great day and I'll work on some pics of that amp. Kenny CEF491 Da Hotwiya |
Mrbigshot
Junior Member Username: Mrbigshot
Post Number: 30 Registered: 2-2005
| Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 12:32 pm: |
|
the reason the look like a connex is they use the same board. its a uk 148 dx b |
Bc910
Intermediate Member Username: Bc910
Post Number: 372 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 1:44 am: |
|
HotWire Send me the pic via Email, I'll post it for ya, you gotta reduce the file size not the physical size, and I would be more than happy to do it if you don't know how. My Email address is in my bio. BC |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 137 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 9:45 am: |
|
Thanks Bc! |
Audiophile73
Member Username: Audiophile73
Post Number: 57 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 12:38 am: |
|
not to burst anybodies bubble but cobra does not make that amp, and galaxy does not make the galaxy amps, and palomar doesn't make the palomar amps because they went out of business a long time ago. All cb amps are dirty and badly biased. But hey we all run them so what ya gonna do! |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 144 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 12:38 pm: |
|
Yeah we know. Not ALL amps are dirty and badly biased. Its all in the matchup of every componet. I use a galaxy amp in my car and you would not know if I didnt tell you. I hear So called Dave Made and Texas Star amps that sound terrible.Everybody wants to crank them up so high to walk on others.The heat is what makes amps sound bad other than a bad match. Audiophile you are correct that Galaxy does not make amps. As far as my Cobra amp your opinion maybe right. I look for the facts before I;m certain. Trust me my bubbles not busting. I hear so many expert opinions about amps radios antennas and so on and there all different. |
Audiophile73
Member Username: Audiophile73
Post Number: 58 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 2:49 am: |
|
lol i know, i didn't mean to offend anybody it looks like ya got a good setup there. I got an xforce and there supposed to be the "best", but hey, in my opinion I spent more money than I had to. Wow the throw a fan on top and let you volt them up. i wish I had gotten a texas star or something else. Didn't mean to make anybody mad, u got a nice setup |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 148 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 10:37 am: |
|
No Audiophile I'm not mad and not really offended . I know your most likely 100% correct. Most amps probably are basement made. X Force probably are one of the best. A friend of mine uses one and believe me! its worth the money. I try really hard and have invested alot of time and thousands of dollars on gear.I'm a bit of an audiophile myself and strive for clear clean crisp audio. Its not the best radio or amp I have ever used but I will say this, I am amazed of the performance that this little 2 pill can dish out. I will use it for a while and then sell it or keep it and try a different amp later on. As for radios......I'm stuck on my connex for now. I am getting the itch for an S-9 after nowing how much Bc loves his. Audiophile have a great day and hope to hear you on the air soon. |
Audiophile73
Member Username: Audiophile73
Post Number: 59 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 4:20 am: |
|
good to see another audiophile on here, i scored a nad 2400 amp for 50 bucks the other day. perfect condition, gonna match it up with a tube preamp and some quad speakers probably |
Patzerozero
Advanced Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 527 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 5:47 pm: |
|
audiophile, xforce is AN EXACT DUPLICATE of davemade. both are handmade, not by just 1 person but are in fact thoroughly checked out before leaving the 'plant'. in fact, there are FAR LESS problems with them, brand new out of the box, then with the mass produced amps. they are both filtered to some extent, & excellent choices, when used for what they were intended for. your xforce should be 'no comparison' to a texas star, a fine amplifier itself. the main reason people are not happy with 'custom' amps is because they purchase a class C amp & try using it more for SSB then AM. or get the wrong transistor compliment/drive setup. unless the xforce was requested to be modded/biased for SSB it came AM ready. for SSB a magnaforce would be the better choice. they do not cost much more then a texas star & performance is superior, when set up correctly. |
Sparkomatic
Intermediate Member Username: Sparkomatic
Post Number: 340 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 8:29 am: |
|
The only downside of Xforce/Davemade amps is that the antenna system better be right with a low, low SWR.....or else they won't last very long. Stock amps can handle high SWR for a long time but of course do 1/2 the watts of Xforces. |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 151 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 11:33 am: |
|
Thats strange. I have a 1.1 SWR. When I turn on the amp it goes 2.0 0r even 2.5. If it goes any higher I dont use the setup. Anybody know any tricks to fixing this? |
Bc910
Intermediate Member Username: Bc910
Post Number: 422 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 9:25 pm: |
|
I bet your over driving it man BC |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 161 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 9:51 am: |
|
I must be. My 148 swings 20 watts and drives it cool. My 4800 swings 40 watts and that heats it up fast. |
Chad
Intermediate Member Username: Chad
Post Number: 183 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 9:14 am: |
|
Also!!! If the 4800 is producing harmonics and the amp is amplifying them the antenna will only kick them back at the amp due to the fact that it is out of it's resonance. Overdriving the amp may also be causing harmonics. This could be the reason the SWR is going up on you. Chad |
Salty_bones
New member Username: Salty_bones
Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, June 01, 2005 - 3:58 pm: |
|
Hotwire, how big of a power supply are you running that Corba XL 350 on and are you running the same power supply on your radio? I was just wondering because I have that same linear and need to know how big of a power supply to buy. I also installed a fan in the bottem of mine but it kicks off after you switch to anything above low. Thanks for any input. Salty Bones. |
Hotwire
Intermediate Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 444 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 11:07 am: |
|
Dont have the cobra anymore but I used a 52 amp unit. You will need at least 40 amps because it peaks that high on SSB. |
Goat373
Intermediate Member Username: Goat373
Post Number: 146 Registered: 3-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 11:28 pm: |
|
just bought one on the cheap...will post my results |
Hotwire
Advanced Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 815 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 7:36 am: |
|
Goat! I got my Cobra XL350 back from the guy I sold it to recently. Fried and repaired once and going strong. These amps are rare nowadays as far as I know. Very solid and super loud. Mine is putting out 200+ watts no sweat! AWESOME PREAMP too! Now it sits on my shelf as a backup or possibly for sale to a friend. You made a good buy. I paid a C note for mine. Nice and clean but used. See pic above! |
Goat373
Intermediate Member Username: Goat373
Post Number: 147 Registered: 3-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 9:50 pm: |
|
i got mine and it does...with key of 5 and swing to 60 low=key 30 swing 100 med=key 45 swing 125 hi =key 70 swing 150 max=key 115 swing 150 will not top 200....why is mine so much weaker? |
Hotwire
Advanced Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 819 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 11:10 am: |
|
Are you running it indoors on a power supply? Could be that maybe its not getting enough amps. Mine can gobble up close to 40 amps! Wow a 5 watt dead key and 60 watt swing? Be careful Goat! Mine gets 200 watts with 2 watt key and 20 watt swing. Also make sure SWR is LOW! Maybe double check for 2879 pills? Who knows our amps may have part differences. |
Goat373
Intermediate Member Username: Goat373
Post Number: 149 Registered: 3-2005
| Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 8:16 pm: |
|
could i push this amp with an S9...i may be getting one...i just keep going back to it, and im tired of looking
|
Patzerozero
Senior Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2252 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 11:15 am: |
|
if it has 2 2879's in it-MAYBE. dead key down to LOW LOW LOW & turn down mic gain til it swings less then 20 watts. then see what ya get |
Allan
Member Username: Allan
Post Number: 83 Registered: 2-2006
| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 11:56 pm: |
|
http://www.cbworldinformer.com/200112/cobra_xl450.htm For anyone still interested in the Cobra named amps, someone did a somewhat in-depth write up on the Cobra xl-450 back in Dec, 2001, with some pictures of the innards. Says they are a pretty good copy of the old (for real) Palomar Magnum.... |
Hotwire
Senior Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1226 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 12:18 pm: |
|
Thanks Allan, Something I would like to point out. I sold my Cobra amp a while back and it was the XL 350. A two pill 2879. I noticed the 4 pill XL450 has different make transisters. Also the XL450 appears to have an aluminum board. My XL350 had a green silicon or plastic type board. If someone had the chance to get both amps my first choice would now be the 4 pill model although my 2 pill was a great amp too! Its still working today even after I abused it with my Connex 4800. The 2 pill is very sensitive to high input. Keep a 2 watt DK and 20 watt swing TOPS and it will last a long time. I am searching for the 4 pill now just as long as it has an aluminum board. I agree with the review. My Cobra sure did scream and I wish I could buy it back. I could have sold it for more than 25 bucks! But hey I do friends right!73 |
Allan
Member Username: Allan
Post Number: 84 Registered: 2-2006
| Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 8:53 pm: |
|
(from the site.....) This Cobra is a duplicate of the Palomar Magnum but with Motorola MRF 454 transistors, which are a true sideband device. This unit has 4 of these devices and is Class AB1 biased. The unit has the original negative feedback and lowpass filter circuits. The layout is the same as the amplifier built back in the 80s. Sez they were made in Mexico.... Wish they were still around to be had easily. I have my search option turned on and set to email me if one pops up on * * * * |
454deerhunter
New member Username: 454deerhunter
Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2002
| Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 10:21 pm: |
|
just wondering if anyone has ever hearo of a cobra 190 gtl/dx its a 2 pill amp not sure what size what the pills are cause of grounding straps across the pills but looks similar to the 350 except its all grey its swings 300 and has a aluminum board |
Lonestarbandit
New member Username: Lonestarbandit
Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 - 7:30 pm: |
|
i used to have the 250 mobile and wish i never sold it lol |
Lonestarbandit
Member Username: Lonestarbandit
Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 12:47 am: |
|
just bought a magnum 450 off my buddy that got a bigger amp. on the way to me monday. 4x2290 does 400 pep. lets see the 350 do that ;) btw i know who sells the cobras and they just as of this month recieved a very threatening call from cobra radios. seems they finally noticed ;) anyway they are now all rebadged as palomar magnums. i tried to get a cobra from them but they say they dont want to be sued so those faceplates have been destroyed. |
Lonestarbandit
Intermediate Member Username: Lonestarbandit
Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 4:42 am: |
|
And now they are back selling them and magnum branded (same amps) again lol. |