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Reviews For: Collins 30L-1

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

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Review Summary For : Collins 30L-1
Reviews: 39MSRP: 520.00
Description:
80-10 meter 1KW PEP linear amplifier
Product is not in production
More Info: http://collinsradio.org/html/30l-1.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15395
PY1BR Rating: 2004-06-24
Small Big Amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my 30L-1 in use now for over 4 years. The 30L-1 is very well built. You can find 100% of Teflon wires. No one on the market has it (as far as I know).
I built my own relay box to operate with modern rigs. Never had any problem with this classic linear amplifier.
What I suggest to do is to replace the blower to a new one (avoiding any new hole of course). I friend of mine found a blower that fits perfectly well. This is to those living in tropical countries where the sun really shines.
K0IZ Rating: 2004-06-24
Geat Amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Let me add my 5.0 to the rest of the 5.0's. Great mechanical construction, great components. Input circuit is true 50 ohms for perfect match to solid-state rigs. Nice looking, quiet, small. Works forever. Very clean spectrum output. Why buy some of the newer amps in this power range and get so-so construction. Super value.
chris carroll Rating: 2004-01-19
OUTSTANDING Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the 30l1 for 3 years now and they really are a quiet and reliable Amp. My first one was used with an FT920 and TS 820S and put out 700w key down on 10m.I sold it and straight away realised how silly i was and so i picked up another one which is in use with my S line.The spectral purity is very impressive and they are built like nothing made today and tune up is a dream!The phase comparator circuit is fantastic for easy spot on tuning. This is the best 811a Amp ever built so for medium power it has to be a Collins 30L1.

Chris.
KG5FTK Rating: 2003-07-12
doesn't get much better Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If there was ever a work horse amp, this is it. For the price of a set of tubes once in a while, this amp will work forever. I have had 5 of these amps since 1974 and all of them worked without fail. I have collected some spare parts over the years and never used any of them, this amp just doesn't fail. When I see the current selection of 600 watt out amps on the market, I laugh. They just don't come close to a 30L1. There are zillions of these amps still out there. Buy one if this power level is for you.
N9FDE Rating: 2003-01-13
THIS IS IT!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well, I have had my 30L-1 for a little over a year now and like most others have found this amp is it...Thats right, It's probably the best small table top amp ever built!!....Ease of tuning, Rugged tubes...(and cheap)I might add, as compared to the tubes others are useing in their so called "modern" amps of today....This amp when produced was years ahead of it time.

The amazing thing about them is their very avalible...And as compared to all other Collins gear on the market they are very inexpencive,
Most coming in at around $450 to $650 which I think is a very good price for an amp of this quality....
So if your in the market for a really good table top amp this is it....
WB5CYS Rating: 2002-09-17
Top Shelf Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this amp a few weeks ago. I have owned several amplifiers over the years. I was looking for a medium power general purpose amp, so I could be heard during less than ideal conditions.

The 30L-1 is the best amp I have owned for this purpose. It has ample power for this for general use. It is built like a tank (mil-spec) and it is the easiest amp to tune I have ever owned.

If you are considering an 811-A amplifier, try to find one in good condition. You'll like it better than the Ameritron.
K8DE Rating: 2002-08-29
Still the one... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Over the years have had Heath SB-200, SB-220, Henry 2k-classic, and have built a number of amps (using 4-400s, 3-500z, 4-1000, 813s)and the 30L1. They all have something to recommend them, to be sure.

I found a very nice 30L-1 about 5 years ago, and since have had access to a number of the newer 811a based amps, and like the other reviewers, I'd say "no comparison." The quality of the mechanical work in these Collins amps couldn't be reproduced at a price point anyone would pay today. The amateur market just won't support it. It's quiet, puts out a keydown 750w, and uses inexpensive finals (vs the newer ceramic tubes). not that i've ever replaced any. I did replace the electrolytics and diodes, given the age of box as a preventive approach.

Did I also mention that they're pretty? And they work....and work. I use it with my s-line, but mainly got it as a backup, and I'm amazed at how rarely I really fire up the "big amp" anymore....

If you're looking at low end amps, it may be worth your time to see about one of these. They're real available, and the only thing to avoid are some of the obviously beat to --uh --well you know -- ex-military boxes, which often have a mil label on front panel.
K3VO Rating: 2002-02-26
Get one if you can Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For many years I ran a popular 3-500Z amp. with sucess. The drawback was that it was noisy and heavy.
I wanted an amp with a smaller footprint on my desk to go along with my IC-746. It was either a Heath SB-200 or a Collins 30L1. The prices on SB-200 have been zooming up. I found for not much more you could have the Collins. I chose a rebuilt unit for $700. It is quite and puts out a better signal then the old amp. They may be 30 years old but the are a class act. I love mine.
These are not to be confused with the current generation of 811 amps.
WB6MMV Rating: 2000-10-18
Reliable classic amplifier Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my 30L-1 in use now for over 20 years. I have tried other amps with more power and fancy features, yet continue to return to the Collins. It better built (both mechanically and electrically)than most anything on the market today, performs well at its power level and doesn't require much maintenance. The only upgrade was to change the tr switch line to trigger with 12VDC from the original 120V design. This amp has a convenient tune up mode which, if followed, works well. The amp will tune the WARC bands just fine despite have a bandswitch for the original 5 ham bands. It will work with reduced power output on the digital modes as long as the tr relay is in good shape. I drive mine with a Kachina 505DSP with excellent results.

While it needs quality 811A's due to its horizontal mounting, I have had no trouble finding good tubes and reasonable prices. I replaced the original HV electrolytic bank twenty years after the amp was made. A periodic oiling of the fan motor and this linear will perform well. It only takes 80 watts of drive to get full power output on SSB.

Unfortunately there are very few manufacturers of linears today who have a product like these old collins amps. You get what you pay for. For example, the original line cord for this amp is just over 6 feet long--convenient for distant wall plugs. For $500 bucks you can find one of these old classics which will give reliable service for many years.