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the BEST hi-power mobile amp

unit_399

unit_399

EL CAPO
Jun 17, 2008
2,118
3,013
273
ALEJANDRIA, COLOMBIA SA
I have run a lot of different mobile amps over the years, and was wondering what our members thought was the BEST mobile amp out there. 500 watts PEP or more. Best reliability, best sound, best build quality, least splatter, etc.

I have always used a TX600 2 x 4. Bought it in 1982 in SoCal from a custom builder. I know that AUDIOSHOCKWAVE has run one of these too. I have no idea who made the transistors in this amp, as they are labeled as "RF100". But whatever their origin, this amp kicks ass and does it all day long. After 37 years it still puts out 100%+. A lot of forum members have talked DX with me when I was running this box and will testify that it is a great talker.

Which mobile amp have you guys found to be the best ?? Dave Made ? Palomar? Or ??? I know that there are a lot of hi-power boxes out there, and I would like to hear both the good and the bad about them.

Please give me your opinions.

- 399
 

Is there one currently available has your interest as potential best?

I’ve always been leery of no-name. They seem to come and go. Or, a bargain brand that — while long in tooth — isn’t a great performer, just a good price.

My opinion won’t buy a cup of coffee, but I’d make comparisons to an AMERITRON 500 given the rest of the product ranges “viability”.

How good it is or isn’t would not be at issue. The piece. It’s all the rest that goes into it including service and a warranty.

Reliability + Longevity. (The two at which your amp has excelled).
Is there a better measure?

.
 
My Friend.
The Amp you have is what I recommend.
Steve built some really nice amps and those big fans kept them cool, that is why it has lived so long.

( unless he built it special for you that amp should be a 1x4.
Mine was a 800 and had a 2290 driving 4x 2879's)

You would have to double your output power to make a real world difference and you would need to spend bucks to do it.
And have to feed it lots of amps with big wire.
You talk on SSB so you need that bias.
You don't want a class c shootout box.

Very hard to find a SS 750 any more.

The Ameritron is not going to gain you anything unless you want to multiband.

For 27 MHz mobile SSB use you got a good box now.
If you wanted something bigger you really would have to find a custom builder that you could trust to make you a properly biased, 8 transistor or bigger amp and pay well for it.
You know how to treat your equiptment right so a Sweet 16 with a fan kit would be a decent choice if you can find one with Toshiba transistors in it.

Anything now that says Palomar on it is built by god who knows, not the guys from So Cal.
That's about 2 cents worth of random thoughts from my old brain.
Hey
If you ever want to sell that amp
Message me first.

73
Jeff
 
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