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Reviews For: ACOM 1500

Category: Amplifiers: RF Power - HF & HF+6M

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Review Summary For : ACOM 1500
Reviews: 41MSRP: 4540. USD
Description:
Acom 1500 - 1500w PEP (1200w carrier modes) 160 through 6m
manual band change and tuning. 3 Antenna Outputs, 1x 4CX1000
final.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.acom-bg.com/home.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25415
W0FVR Rating: 2019-04-01
Flat out Awesome Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this amp for 3+ years. What I'd say about this amp has already been said. Built like a battleship and pumps out the RF with no effort. It's really quiet and the protection circuits are exceptional. I don't think I could've done better! I can't do a comparison between this and the IC2KL that still sits in the shack since it's SS/tube. It's better than the SB221 I used in the past in every way...although I loved how the 3-500z pair lit up the shack!
K3VA Rating: 2019-03-22
EXCELLENT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
There's not too much to add except that this is my 3rd Acom amp. and hopefully the last! They got heavier as I upgraded from the 1010, the 1K and now to the 1500.
Besides being heavy duty they tune super easy and are very quiet especially the 1500.
I think I would have kept my 1000 but I was over thinking the GU74B situation. There are plenty out there so I really don't think its a big problem.
I do like the 4cx1000 and the extra power from it.
Only thing that would be really nice if Acom would use Vernier reducing on its tuning. Just a thought.
N4DCD Rating: 2017-10-22
Perfect Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had many amps over the years and by far this amp is the easiest tuning amp I ever had. Also at full input power I see close to 1900 watts (normally run 70 watts input for full legal limit). The protecting circuits are the best I have come across including the 6 db pad that automatically gets put into the input line if you exceed the input limit. I run a FTDX-5000MP at the moment and one time I forgot to put it into Class-A (which decreases the output to 75 watts) and the amp inserted the 6db pad instantly and limited the input power to 100watts. Beautiful amp and its a keeper!
W1UFL Rating: 2017-05-29
Excellent Amplifier Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased about 2 months ago. Very easy to tune and absolutely quiet. Very well constructed. Couldn't be happier with it. If your on the fence about an Acom, go for it !
KB6HRT Rating: 2017-05-23
Repeatable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
ACOM 1500 tuning is repeatable an fast, very quite, lots of safe guards, looks good in the shack, 1500w is easy with 65w drive on 160m. On a trade with HRO last year got a new ALS1300 a 1200w nice unit but on long transmission sometimes it would trip out a safty in the tuner or in the ALS 1300 I don't like having to repeat myself on 160m where I use it most, both devices are
RF scening, had to put the Pal-star in manual so it would not happen. The ACOM 1500, ended the problem, don't think the 300w extra watts makes much differance on the top end but its there if needed, the ACOM 1500 works well with the Pal-star. The ACOM 1500 looks an feels like it is built to last an I am a HAPPY CAMPER an a poorer HAM ....................kb6hrt

WR3KI Rating: 2016-08-28
Solid legal limit amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the 1500 Acom in the shack for 13 months now, & I'd say the shake down cruise is over. It is a quiet & well built amp. Effortless legal limit amp. Tune up is different, but very, very smooth. Take a look at the U-tube videos on the subject.

Build quality is right up there with the old alphas of yester-year. Runs a single 4cx1000a, which can be had for a decent price, unlike the 8877. Lots of pulls, used & new available. I recently picked up a NOS tube for $350.

All in all, a good solid legal limit amp that won't break the bank & holds its value.
OZ1LWT Rating: 2016-04-09
Great Amplifier. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Easy to tune and get on frequency.
Protections for all faults.
Great looking, very quiet, and tunes into antenna loads without a tuner.

Vy best 73 de OZ1LWT.
K3MEJ Rating: 2016-02-03
Best amp ever! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned a lot of amplifiers and the ACOM 1500 is by far the best of all them. The amp is quiet, tuning is easy, and the display gives you a ton of information. Their customer service in Bulgaria is superb. I needed their help and Val was very responsive.


N1IK Rating: 2015-12-10
First impressions are outstanding... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my ACOM 1500 for just two days now, but the initial report is 5.0/5.0. I'll post a follow up report in several months.

The unit arrived from HRO double boxed and in perfect condition. I had it unboxed and on the air in just 15 minutes.

I'm getting the hang of tuning with the TRI tuning aid, and so far it seems to take all the pain out of tuning.

Once tuned, it just spits out the power. I am able to drive the unit to full legal limit on SSB and CW into well-matched antennas with ease.

I know ACOM is coming out with an update for this amp, but I didn't care. I don't do digital modes, and never will, so the 1200W limit on continuous carrier like RTTY isn't interesting to me. (And on top of that, 300 more watts is 1/10th of an S-unit on the other end, so who cares.)

What made me select this model over waiting for a new, updated model is that this model is tried and true and has a perfect review score on eHam. Who knows what a new model will be like in terms of bugs, reliability, and so on.

So far, I am very happy.

This unit will be the sister to my REALLY old Alpha 87A, which is just about to be sent out for repairs to fix a zero sensor.


VK4SX Rating: 2015-11-11
Nothing has changed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Absolutely Wonderful tube amplifier,
after 3 yrs ownership, with infrequent use, what a pleasure to come back to THIS AMP, after spending time with similar type amplifiers,
nothing else to be said,
a person has to spend some time with this ACOM 1500 to really appreciate the thought that has gone into the manufacture.
Excellent in every way.
Cheers
Dennis vk4sx
ps
quieter then some SS desktop amps

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Earlier 5-star review posted by VK4SX on 2012-10-05

what a fantastic HF amplifier, so easy to use, the big plus for me was how QUITE it runs, the absolute ease of use and band swapping, retuning etc are a breeze, I will give a further review at a later date, but I doubt my first opinions will alter, I have owned quite a few HF amplifiers over the years, had the pleasure of owning the first ever commerically produced single tetrode 4cx1600B amp by EMTRON AU, '96/7 plus quite a few others, and in a few short words, the others have a lot of ground to make up when it comes to the ACOM 1500 desktop amp,
QUITE, PRECISE & FIRM knobs, tuning, even down to the momentary pressure buttons, you can feel the quality, an extremely large amount of hands on Ham ideas have been well thought through and implemented in this wonderful desktop toy.
all previous owners of ACOM gear have just about said it all,
quite an experience compared to others.
Regards
Dennis VK4SX