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| Reviews Summary for Heathkit SB-220/SB-221 |
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You can
write your own review of the Heathkit SB-220/SB-221.
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KA6PSD
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Rating: 5/5
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May 3, 2008 09:37
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Rock Solid Amplifiers !
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I am the fourth owner of a SB-220. I run a Icom 746-pro, and a Tarheel 200(Screwdriver Antenna) at 35ft off the deck. The SB-220 has let me talk the distance I can hear, not so with only 110 Watts Out. It only needs 40 watts drive to achieve 975 watts out. I once forgot to turn down my excitter level and was seeing well in excess of 1500 watts. OUCH ! Not good for the amp I'm sure.With a little massaging I can tune anything from 80 all the way to 10 meters, 75/80 is my favorite area to play in. Mine uses 220 VAC with a 20 amp breaker for a supply line. Most of the usual mods have been done such as softstart, new cap bank & power regulation board, Paracitic Isolation kit, softkey & relay.
Really a great amp and can't go wrong for the price. If you need a good solid amp and like nostalgic amps like I do this would be a great starting point and possibly a life long piece of equipment. See One Buy One. If I can hear them I can work them.
KA6PSD Robert
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AD4C2006
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 16, 2008 07:21
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I real work horse
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is one of the strongest work horse amps I have seen,it will resist the abuse of an unskilled op and will never quit.I got mine about 3 years ago from a local guy in Tampa,FL in a trade we did,its black painted,front panel and case as well,it matches the color of my 756Pro3 as brothers,I don't have 220V at home but even at 120V with 100W in I can get easy clean 1200W but I never run it over 800 to 850W,mine has all the harbach mods done and with the new fan it runs cool even at high power.I will not detail all the good specs,everything has been said here.This is a keeper at my home.Its a shame that heathkit went out of business so long ago,they always made good radios and amps.Good luck to all users of this well designed amp.
AD4C
Lake Worth,FL
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N2RRA
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 12, 2007 20:13
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Agree to be one of the best
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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What can I say positive that has'nt been said by other posts. This is the best amp., and bang for the buck.
Luckly I found mine in excallent condition, and intend on keeping it that way. Will never get rid of it, because I know as time goes on they will be harder to find, and should be worth more.
Great Amp!
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N6KYS
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 12, 2007 19:23
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Finest linear ever made
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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It was a sad day when Heathkit quit making the SB-220/221 and then later folded. This was the finest linear ever built. No, I'm not putting it against an Alpha ceramic tube monster, but this thing was solid, heavy, and durable. It was the gold standard....I hope the owners today keep them restored.
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W4HEY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 31, 2007 07:10
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What An Amp!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased my SB-220 off eBAY for $500. back in March. It had been built in 1972 and sat unused since 1977 in a garage, so I was a bit skeptical. When I received it, I was amazed at its pristine (minus the dust) condition and quite excited to crank it up! I put it on a VariAC for a couple of days just to be safe. Then came the test, a bit nerve-wracking I might add, but it had been up to 115v for a full 10 hours so now I hooked it up to my FT-990. Standing back and holding my ears, expecting the worst, nothing happened except a relay-click and needle movement. After tuning to the best of my ability, I was getting a solid 850W on 110V. Not bad I thought, so I continued its use. About 3 months later on a stormy day, after everything subsided, I powered up the station as normal and when I snapped the old SB-220's power switch, BANG! POP! click click click click, negative plate voltage and all... a resistor finally gave out. I ended up ordering all 7 of the 8 available Harbach mods ($245.) and gave it to a local friend and Amp Guru. He installed them and got her working again for $100. -- So now my better than new SB-220 sits proudly above all, even the 756ProIII, atop my shelf in the shack, waiting on a moments notice to be called into service. Under $900. for a SKW Amp -- Definitely a KEEPER!
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ON8DM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 17, 2007 14:47
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excellent
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I must agree with some reviews.It is doing a great job.Unfortunatly here in Europe you can't find such an amp for 400 dollars in good shape.
1000 dollars is not exceptional.
the one that i had never refused and putted out 1200 watts fm cont.No mods or other changes.
If you can find one buy it and keep it
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KB5VJY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 25, 2007 21:44
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Amazing!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had been looking for some time for a good HF amp but all I thought I could afford was a 300-500 watt amp. A friend of mine contacted me and let me know that he knew where one was I could buy for around 300 bucks!!!.. I couldn't say no.. but I was quite scared. We met up the next day with the amp in tow, it looked really good for a 30 year old amp. He said he fired it up on 80 for about 15 minutes. I got it home and took it apart (first thing I do with all equipment) There were no mods done to this amp, straight stock amp. Did a little house keeping, dusting here and their. After checking the caps, I put it back together and fired it up. The amp buzzed back to life and to my suprise, it was putting out 1,400 kw on 80. The fun part was interfacing it to my TS-450 but that is another story. Truly an amazing amp for the buck!
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K1QN
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 1, 2006 10:38
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25 years young!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought it and built it in 1981. Zero problems. The T/R voltage is a bit high, and I've been tempted, over the years, to put a remote solid state relay on it. (Use an old wall wart for power, put the "works" in a radio shack box.) It still looks and works great.
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KA0CSL
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 30, 2006 14:28
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BEST BANG FOT THE BUCK!!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This amplifier is designed well. In my opinion (IT’S THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!!!). The SB-220 is very reasonably priced and is a real work horse amplifier. I suggest 220V If possible (Less Sag). I recently sold my SB-220 because I purchased a Henry 8877 desktop amplifier (BIGGER, BADER, BETTER.) If you’re looking to drop the maul and bust pileups the SB-220 is a great start! You can use it for years and sell it for more than you bought it for hi hi. They have depreciated all that their going to and considering a new amp of its caliber is over 2 grand... Search the net there are a bunch of neat upgrades for this unit. Hypersil transformers, Capisitor banks, Rectifier & Meter assy’s, ect. Purchasing the Sb-220 is a dollar well spent and after you sell it at a profit it will be a dollar well earned.
73
KAØCSL
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N4MWY
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 26, 2006 13:16
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my SB 221 works great
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Time owned: months
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I have an SB 221 with all of the mods. It works great-no problems. It will do 1 KW+ out.
The 2 3-500Zs are a classic; Ameritron makes one that appears to be just an update of the Heathkit SB 221 with mods and a few improvments.
For what they sell for, it is a bargain.
n4mwy
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