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Boxcar
| | Posted on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 4:51 pm: | 
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I just wanted to get some opinions on tube amplifiers versus solid state amplifiers here. I will admit running a solid state linear from time to time but kind of miss having the old tube amp around even despite it(the tube amp) not having as much power as the solid state does, it got out a lot further than the solid state. I have been looking around for another tube type and was curious as to those KLV amps and how they are. What kind of tubes are in the KLV1000 anyway? I have had some discussions with people that say you can't beat burning glass versus solid state but my little solid state kicks butt when driven by my rci2950. I think the only catch to me owning a tube amp again is the maintenance behind it. I had a palomar 200X and it worked fine for about 2 years then it took a dump on me and I couldn't find anyone here in town that works on those old linears anymore. And after getting the jolt of a lifetime, I think I'll leave the experts to repair my equipment so there's no 911 calls to my house!! Anyways, what's your opinion on the matter?????
-BoXCaR- |
de
| | Posted on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 6:06 pm: |
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My position is based on my personal experience. True story, once I tuned my FT 101E completely without an antenna attached. NOT even a SWR meter attached. The tubes granted did get a little warm but they suffered no damage.
Now I wonder just how fast that transistor amp would have lasted if I attempted to tune it witout an antenna attached?
Tubes are a pain 'a la rear' to tune again, and agian, and again. But they are much more durable and rugged compated to transistorized jobs.
The advantage of transistor amps is that they usually do not require any tuning and are much more convienant to use. |
Bigbob
| | Posted on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 6:22 pm: |
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JOLT?Try getting it from your cars ignition one 6" spark = 105,000 volts,yikes!My arm was dead for five minutes.You can tune your tube amp for max clean output,and you can overdrive them to an early grave,u pick,solidstates are nearly and I reiterate "nearly" indestructable when driven normaly into a non-reactive load,but you overdrive them you think you're geting alot of extra power,but it's just harmonics and spurious emisions,in other words you splatter all over the band.Keep the drive down and the swr's and your tubes and your transistors will love you,as to the specific question either post in "ask the tech" amplifiers sub-heading or e-mail Tech671 directly. |
Boxcar
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 - 5:07 pm: |
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Bigbob, I thought my jolt was enough to wake me up but I guess an arm that goes numb for a while has to be more extreme than mine. I didn't really mind the tuning of a tube amp since it's pretty much required every time you turn one on but solid states are easier to maintain and maintenance at that. Hmm? Replace pills or tubes? Tubes are getting more scarce as the years go by too. THANKS FOR THE OPINIONS GUYS!!!!!!!!!
-BoXCaR- |
Simon
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 9:58 am: |
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Of courseif some idiot does decide to drop the "big one"your semiconductor radio/amp will be deadbut your tubed one will still gomerrily on its way.EMP pulses don't effect tubes |
Simon
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 10:02 am: |
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Bigbob,
You mentioned a 105KVjolt. Whilein the airforce I saw a newspaper photographer walk into a room full of 10KW radar transmitters while hehad a pocketful of magnesium flash bulbs. No jolt but a damn big burn mark on his thigh whenevery single bulb went off at once.Oh yes quickestIve ever seen trousers hit the floor despite a few women in the room. Guess he learnt why we all emptied our pockets |
Boxcar
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 7:16 pm: |
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Oh my god Simon! I would say that's hillarious on how you described that but not so funny if you were the one throwing off the pants huh? I got a kick out of that one. Thanks!!!!!!! |
bruce
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 - 8:35 pm: |
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Same thing happened at at Ft Knox when i was there the radar was being repaired and somehow the antenna got lowered and the beam cut through the PX ..... flashbulbs are nice little recivers for X band microwave.... no one hurt.... except some M-25's |
Txdx
| | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 2:22 am: |
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Base tube.Mobile transistor.The klv 1000 and 1000P both use 6KG6/EL509.The stock tubes they put in these amplifiers arent the greatest and when replaced you should use 6KG6/EL509-MQ Svetlana tubes.The pins on the base of the Svetlana tubes are a hair wider so you need to spread the socket a little before installing them or you risk cracking the tube.These amps are good considering the price but one look inside will tell you they arent in the running with Henry,Ameritron or Heathkit.You get what you pay for.If you treat them right and dont abuse them they are good amps.Well my typing finger is tired.I hope this helps.Take care. |
Boxcar
| | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2003 - 6:10 am: |
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All opinions are greatly appreciated there Txdx. I am kind of on the look out for an older tube amp but just wanted some info on the KLV amps. Thanks!!!!!! |
bullet
| | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 9:03 pm: |
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tubes, not horz sweep tube but instead transmit tubes.
811a 572b 3-500z 4cx250r ect... |
Sparkomatic
| | Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 3:23 pm: |
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On my base I run an XFORCE XT-40012 2 driving 4 and the output is way better than the 10 tube Phantom I ran years ago. Glass tubes are too expensive and hard to find in certain applications. Because I live next to Shut Ins that live on their computer I can only talk at certain times but my XFORCE causes interference way less than my Phantom did. I would never own another glass tube amp....but I wouldn't rule out a "Steel Tube" amp. That XT-40012 has be operating for 3 years now with no problems. Arcing tuners and bad caps were a problem with my phantom. |
Tech671
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2003 - 5:19 am: |
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It's all in what you want/need. Transistors definately will not take the punishment that some tube amps will. On the flip some of the newer tube amps are not forgiving either. If you are not into the loading and tuning then solid state is the only way to go (unless you find a "no-tune" tube amp).
The KLs are hard to beat in the classes they have in both tube and transistor, but do not overdrive them or run excessive swr (1.7 or higher).
There are several custom builders that make solid state amps, a few are pretty good bang for the buck but again swr must be very low.
When looking for an amp in the 1k-2k range many that use the 3-500z tubes run well and are somewhat forgiving.
The ceramic tube amps are real work horses, but some are not very forgiving and quite expensive tube(s) to replace. |
Orion
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 11:38 pm: |
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I'll take transistors. Sure I'm a bit jaded or biased because I never ran or owned a tube radio. But, there was a move from tubes to transistors for a reason. Smaller, more reliable, more efficient. They can do a lot of things. Sure, if they frop the "big one" your tubes won't get affected while transistors will get wiped out. Not that its really an issue or realistic incentive to go with tubes but keep in mind that your amp, power supply, mic and everything else must be tubes also and that jsut aint gonna be the case. What good are good tubes when everything else is dead? |
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