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| Reviews Summary for Alpha 76CA |
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Reviews: 11
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $2695
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Description: Description: ALPHA Legacy Amp.
3 - 8874's
Same spec. as 76PA, but uses a 2.4 KVA Hypersil
Extra-Duty transformer.
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Product is not in production.
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More info: http://www.rfconcepts.com
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AE4IQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 6, 2010 18:32
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JUST GREAT
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned this Alpha 76 CA for about 10 years now and all I can say is what a great piece of equipment. From it's superb construction to it's "brick on the key" performance, it just can't be beat. As an Air Force MARS station and Training Officer for the state of Florida, I rely heavily on this amp. It has never let me down. It's ability to smoothly tune, even on MARS frequencies is just wonderful. The tubes may be expensive, but I have never had to change them!(They may be the original ones). Also, the parts and service department is just super, still being able to provide me a replacement switch assy (cosmetically damaged before I got it) as well as panel meter lamps. I HIGHLY recommend this amp. My 9 year old son, KJ4OIX, can't wait to upgrade and "take it over" hi hi.
I still have the ORIGINAL warranty card from 1979 that came with the owners manual, obviously, never needed. THANK YOU ALPHA!
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N0EC
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 3, 2010 07:26
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great amp
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned this amplifier for over 25 years now. It still has the original tubes and is still like new. Very well designed. I've owned many other amplifiers such as Henry, Ameritron, and Icom. I've had good luck with all of them, but the quality of the Alpha products have always been above the rest.
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N7WX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 31, 2010 17:55
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OUTSTANDING AMPS
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi all u hamsters...We have had many Alpha's from a water cooled PA-70V, four 76's and now a Alpha 77SX two holer, also a Alpha 374A upgraded with warc bands and thrid tube..What more can we say about their products and service..Only going to get better with RFconcepts behind them now..
Just ordered a new Alpha 8410 and can't wait for this one..Cannot get any better than a Alpha
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K4VUD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 31, 2010 17:26
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76PAC is a work horse
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Alpha 76PAC version, three tubes, Hypersil transformer, is the top of the line in the 76 line. Manual tune is smooth and reseting is easy with very fine graduated knob skirts. The amp will work great on the WARC bands by choosing the next closest band on the band switch (example choose 15 meters for 17 meters).
Three tube version will output above legal limit with less than 100watts of drive and that is continuous. Very rugged if you keep the grid current lower than 1/3 scale, and never more than a second at higher if you value your tubes.
The push button switches do eventually wear out and are a bear to replace. Alpha still has some replacements that are nearly the same for mechanical mounting (same electrically). The meter lamps eventually burn out and are not simple bulbs.
Alpha products simply WORK as advertised and once the 76 is loaded up, you can forget it. However, those receiving your signal will remember! Great on 160 and easy to get onto 10.
Read the mod web pages about the swamping in the input to decide to remove or not.
Enjoy, de K4VUD
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HI8HH
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Rating: 5/5
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May 11, 2009 18:31
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The best all arround Power Amplifier
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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WHEN IN 1988 I WENT TO THE ETO´S FACTORY I WAS INMEDIATELY HOOKED WITH THE 76CA. FLAWLESS WORKMANSHIP INSIDE AND A BEAUTY ON THE OUTSIDE. ALL BUTTOMS, DIALS AND LIGHTS ARE EASILY SEEN AND ACCESSIBLE.
I HAVE WON SEVERAL CONTEST MAINLY IN THE 160Mts BAND. ON OTHER BANDS AS WELL. WHEN YOU BECAME PROFICIENT ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE 76CA´S CAPABILITIES, YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT IT WORKS ON ALMOST ALL THE WARC BANDS!!!!!!!!
HIGHLY RECOMENDED: HI8HH ( FORMER HI8VMA)
P/S: KEEP THE GRID CURRENT AND DRIVEN POWER AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. MY ORIGINAL TUBES ARE 21 YEARS OLD AND STILL FRYING THE BANDS!!!!!!!
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PA1K
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 17, 2006 17:45
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great amp
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have an like new Alpha 76CA.
Fantastic amp with smooth tuning.
The only thing is that the tubes (8874) are hard to get, but i have a few new ones, so no problem.
If you can buy one, do it.
Keep the grid current low, and the tubes will last a life time.
It's an Alpha!!!
Bert PA1K
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K7ABV
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 12, 2003 00:50
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new front panel
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Have had this amp for 14 years and just got a new front panel from Alpha...it took just a few minutes to install and looks great with the new Black smooth panel...amp works very good and have only re-tubed it once in all those years...I use it for dx and contests..if you find one, you won't be sorry, I still like to see the needle's move up and down hi...
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K8ND
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 14, 2002 05:19
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Excellent Older Amp
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I owned a new Alpha 76CA for six years, and it was a fine piece of equipment. My use was primarily contesting, and it saw hard use in many multi-single operations.
It made two trips for contest operations on Anguilla in VP2E operations in 1981 and 1982, where generator power provided a less-than-friendly power environment. Kept on ticking through the contests.
It was a sad day when I sold the '76CA to take a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy more land around my house, but the decision was a good one.
I'm now using a pair of Alpha 91B amplifiers, and they are better suited to the the current power limit rules (1600 W dissipation vs 1200 W for the 76CA). The 4CX800A tubes are *much* cheaper than finding a trio of 8874 today, and the newer amps work less hard to get to the legal limit.
Given the bargains available on some of these legacy amps, the Alpha 76CA is a good choice for many applications.
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K4HX
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 9, 2002 06:36
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A Thoroughbred
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The 76CA has the epoxy-sealed Hypersil transformer, which offers higher voltage, less heat, and lighter weight. It is the one to buy, if you're looking for an earlier Alpha amp.
The "CA" also has 3 8874s, which if not repeatedly over-driven (abused), will provide the legal limit output for years. The nice thing about an Alpha, is that it genuinely loafs at 1500 watts pep! If you turn up the drive to 100w, you'll need a wattmeter that can read above 2kw (into a dummy load, of course!). And all this with very little fan noise, and not a lot of heat coming out the vent holes in the top of the cabinet!
One peek inside, and one hour chasing DX on your favorite band, and you'll no longer feel bad about having paid so much to get one of these!
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KC4PX
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 4, 2002 17:25
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New Front Panel for Alpha 76A's
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I just received a new front panel for the ALPHA 76A's.. Wow it really makes a difference in the shack. No problem putting it on. It took only 5 minutes and was accomplished without unhooking anything....
Alpha now has these front panels in stock. Call them to order. P/N is MSX-X001
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