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You can
write your own review of the Kenwood TL-922A.
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KD5UVV
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Rating: 4/5
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May 17, 2006 14:22
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Excellent Amp, Now!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The TL-922A is a very good amp as-is, but lets face it, no QSK, loud relays, no step/start and some reported problems with stability can be a problem for some.
But with the Rich Measures mods done to this amp, it really makes it an excellent amplifier. To me, it’s one of the best looking desktop amplifiers out today, even being an older design. And it is built like a tank.
It’s a good amplifier but it can be made so much better with the mods done to it. I had the modifications done by Don Kessler, KI6SZ of Kessler Engineering (see review) and now this amplifier is truly a pleasure to use, rock solid 10 thru 160 meters, including 12/17
This amplifier was never designed to be a legal limit amplifier. This is a good solid 1000+ watt amplifier. The 4 rating is because of the mods that it needs to bring it up-to-date.
73,
Dale – kd5uvv
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K6YE
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 23, 2006 07:51
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GREAT AMP!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This amp (TL-922 which has 10 meters factory installed) is superb for a manual-tune 160 through 10 piece of gear. It does not need to be driven hard to achieve the "full-gallon" rating. Installing Rich Measure's mods will enhance and add longetivity. I like the fact that the fan stays on to cool the 3-500Zs even after power is switched off. If you can find one (typically $750 to $1000) in good condition, grab it. You will not be sorry and should never have to repair it.
Semper Fi,
Tommy - K6YE
DX IS
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WD0CT
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 24, 2005 02:17
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boat anchor
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Big and heavy but handsome. I had no problems and it tuned and ran fine.
The relay will WAKE THE DEAD.
If I had kept it I would have looked into putting a vacuum relay in it.
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KA5ROW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 12, 2005 20:44
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Solid As a Rock
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The Kenwood TL 922-A is a well built amp. I have had no problems at all, It loads and tunes very smooth. It will do 1300 watts if pushed to the max., but I run a 1000 watts about ½ the time the other ½ I will drive it with 40 to 60 watts for 500 to 600 watts. And that is just fine with me. It's a shame that Kenwood will not offer the TL 933 to the U.S hams.
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W7WV
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 3, 2005 11:31
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Solid
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I picked my TL-922A up used for under $800.
I liked the 2 ea 3-500Z tube platform. The tubes are getting a little expensive but they last forever if you take care of them. Mine has the original tubes in it with factory rated output.
It was not designed to put out the legal limit, but then again it will loaf at 600-800 watts and last a long time there.
This amp had some minor faults as built and they can be fixed should you wish to.
Solid components and construction. I had an Ameritron and just did not like what I saw when I looked closely at the construction of it.
For the times I really need an amplifier, this will do quite nicely.
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IK2FRZ
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Rating: 3/5
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Feb 16, 2005 02:24
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Good for intermittent utilization
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This amplifier do not have a "soft start" (High start current damage the filament of tube ).
The blower is not cooling the tubes base, but extract air near the tubes!
In this mode is not possible to obtain the max power from the tubes.
Max power out for a few second is >1600W (AMPEREX 3-500ZG) but in the normal use not use more to 1000W key down.
Good aesthetics and easiness of tuning and utilization.
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WB8RKQ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 23, 2004 14:09
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love it
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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the tl922a is a tank it is build great the best amp for the time it came out just look inside one some time and you will see what i mean there are some mods you should do if you want it to last forever. but is is a great looking amp i use mine all the time it puts out 1500 watts easy on 220 line voltage and say 125 input they are selling for around 900 bucks they will last for ever if you take care of them all i can say is good about the 922a 73
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PA3HBT
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 26, 2003 16:39
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Built like a tank
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I did all of Richard Measure's mods, exept the qsk. The amp is very wel protected now.
The TL922 is a nice quit desktop amplifier and solid as a rock. Before you by one, chek it out first. The rf output power one 10 mtr must be aprox. 1100 W, one 20 mtr 1350 W.
Second hand price is very much dependeble of the condition of the tubes.
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K6OIX
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 12, 2003 05:21
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Good amp, but be careful
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Time owned: months
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I've owned this amp for several months and I purchased it off eBay for a little less than the going rate - a good deal. I used it for just a few days before modifying it using all the Richard Meaures modifications. I must admit, that the mods took me much longer than I thought. If I had it to do over, I probably should have plucked down more money for a new, more modern amp.
The mods are well described by Rich and you can download instructions from his web sites. He sells
most of the parts for the QSK mods and the suppressor mods. The suppressor mods were very easy. The QSK required much more work, and given that I have been away from hamming for a while, it took me a while to get back into the saddle, with my construction skills. If you are going to do the mods, his parts are a great deal. You'll need a vacuum relay, also available for ~$25 on eBay.
So now I have a completely modified amp, QSK,
suppressors, soft start, reduced filament voltage,
input tank SWR adjustment, etc. You cannot hear it switch from standby to transmit.
It puts out more than a KW on SSB below 20 meters
and drops off to 800 or so on 10. People critize the amp because it's not legal limit, but a review
of the manual shows that Kenwood never intended it
to be legal limit.
So, my overall conclusion is that the amp is a good choice to get into a compact 1 KW amp, for about $600 to $800 used price. I guess that's
about 1/2 the cost of a brand new dual 3-500X amp.
If you are "handy" and like to do mods, then it
is an even better choice.
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W8MIS
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 9, 2003 10:56
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Great!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I am not knocking the Amp in any way or pushing you towards Mr Kessler I am just saying that I know it can be better. (Vox and QSK whisper quite is nice).
I have been using many brand of Amps. Quite a while back I had a Kenwood TL922A and found it the best made amp on the market. Shortly after using for a while it was apparent that some of the development of the circuit left a lot to be desired. I replaced a tube and a zener and a few other parts after a loud bang one day. I soon after that kind of gave up on it, but always missed the amp.
I then found another one latter in my career that was in flawless stock condition and decried to try again. I was not real happy with the slow and loud relays and was afraid of another break down. I had been aware of the Mods that were discussed and in my search to find someone with the knowledge and patience to reconstruct my newly found gem I ran into Don Kessler in Beaver creek, Ohio (KI6SZ).
I decided to take the amp to him for the work to be done. He is a real busy individual and has other things in life, but said he would fix her up. I just recently picked it back up and the amp works like it never did before. There is a vacuum relay for change over and a elec bias board all the parasitic mods have been done and the tuned input is reworked to allow perfect input on the warc bands and 75 meters has been broadened to allow a good input swr on the entire band and the workmanship was top notch!
It now sits here and during keying (Vox - QSK) all that is heard is the low sound of the cooling fan. If you find that you want to update your Kenwood Amp this is one person to communicate with.
As I told him "this is the best money I have spent on the hobby".
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