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Reviews For: Heathkit SB-200

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

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Review Summary For : Heathkit SB-200
Reviews: 83MSRP: Original Price $400
Description:
HF Amp using two 572B's, 80 - 10 meters
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14834.9
N8EB Rating: 2007-12-07
Best bang 4 the buck! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A little over 3 years ago I was at a local swap and was looking for an amp. I saw a table that had this SB-200, but I had to make sure there wasn't any better deals on another table. There wasn't, but by the time I got back to the SB-200 it was gone. Afterwards a bunch of us went to have some coffee and I told my story of missing out on the Heathkit, and a guy said that he had picked it up. He didn't need it - he already had an amp - it just looked like it was in good shape.

Since neither of us knew it's history, he let me take it to our local Heathkit guru to be checked out before paying a penny for it. It was in great shape inside and out, and the build quality was rated as fantastic.

After a little more than 3 years of heavy use, an average of 4 hours a day 5-7 days a week, I finally had a problem - output dropped to about 300-325 watts.

One tube was weak - almost dead - and one of the "big blues" - power cap - was bad. I bought a Harbach power module upgrade that replaces all the caps as well as the soft start mod.

I also went to RF Parts and ordered 2 Taylor 572B tubes. Here is a funny thing... When we opened it up, the amp still had the original T-160L tubes in it!!! 40 or so years with the type of use I give it is pretty good on a set of old tubes!

I routinely get 650+ watts out on 40-80 meters and about 600 on all other bands. With the amp on, if I can hear 'em, I can work 'em!

There are amps available that put out more power, that are solid state, have more bells and whistles, but for the money you can't beat a Heathkit SB-200! I have seen them for about $300 "stock" on eBay, and upwards of $400 in great shape with Harbach mods.
KI4RIG Rating: 2007-11-05
great amplifier Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I give it a five. it is a real work horse 100w in 900w out on 20 meter and on 10 meter I get 500w out so I think this is a real good amp and you get your moneys worth when you buy this amp
N7BFK Rating: 2007-07-20
Going strong Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my SB-200 from a local OM and was planning on using as a 6M conversion. It sat on my shelf for almost 2 years with out being converted or even tested. I broke down and decided to try it out and see what it does. I hooked up my AmpKeyer and TS-2000 to it and WOW. After tuning it up on 20M I took a look at my Bird meter and it is pushing 800+W. I then tried the rest of the bands and the same thing. Currently its running on 115v and the Cetron 572B that came with it. I guess the OM was being truthful when he said the amp was used very little. That was the best $150.00 spent in my shack. 73, Thomas N7BFK
N0TQQ Rating: 2007-07-12
Very well Engineered Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my SB 200 on ebay in 2005. After I straightened up some repairs "some hack" performed I was ready to load it up. I could only get 300 watts output no matter how I tuned it, and there was no grid meter reading. I decided to try a couple new Chinese tubes to replace the old taylors. Not only did I get the full 600 watts output with the new 572 tubes, my grid meter reading was restored! I run this amp almost every day and have had no problems since the retube. A good one is worth about $300-$350. With tuned input for 10-80 meters, and with filteration second to none, this excellently engineered amplifier is your best bang for the buck 600 watts out there!
K7UA Rating: 2007-06-05
Fine old amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built a SB200 in about 1970 on my kitchen table. It was a great amp. Solid, no problems. I used it heavily for a couple of years. At that time I came up with enough money to upgrade to a SB220. This amp can be a great value if it was built by someone who did a good job. K7UA
W5JON Rating: 2007-02-26
SB-200 on 6 Meters - Great. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Last year I did Ian's, M0BCG modifications given in a previous EHAM discussion, regarding using a SB-200 on 6 Meters. Ian was kind enough to send me a CD with detailed pictures of his mods. I performed all his mods, with a couple changes of my own.

The result is about 650 Watts out, with about 60 Watts dive from my IC-7000. All reports are, and the Scope also shows that it is "very clean". Obtaining all the parts, and doing the mods, turned out to be areally enjoyable couple week project.

Only 10 Meters is lost , and 15-80 Meters function as before. So it is a real nice second life, for the SB-200.

To help it run a bit cooler, I moved over the existing Heath fan, and added a another fan from Harbach, the result is the finals run very warm but not hot. In fact I did almost all the Harbach updates.

The extra power on 6 Meters really mades a big difference, when the band is open and I get in a pile-up.

73,

John W5JON

W5CRY Rating: 2007-02-26
Great HF Amplifier Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought my SB-200 from Ebay several years ago, it was clean as a whistle. Installed all of the Harbach Mods. Added an Amplifier By Pass Switch, so the amp stays warmd up and ready when only the transceiver is used, but can instantly put some extra watts on the antenna when needed. Watts per dollar cost is pretty darn good. Parts availability does not seem to be a problem should they be needed. I would recommend this little table top amplifier to anyone.
W1EMJ Rating: 2006-05-21
SB-200 Incderible Value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you can find a SB-200 in decent shape thay are great! They don't have the harmonic problems the SB-220 has and can plug into the wall socet. I performed all the Harbach mods to mine, the new power supply, upgraded fan and inrush mod so modern rigs can key it up without damage. I also installed 2 new russian tubes.
I only have 550.00 us in it. 1200 watts PEP and full legal limit on CW. Cant beat the value and the toughness of this amp!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W1EMJ on 2001-05-06

This reliable work horse it one of the greatest buys used. Add the Harbach mods, the bigger fan , soft key ect and you will have a great amp at the right price. Adding the great Svetlana matched pair tubes gave me another 50 watts out.
No 220 volt outlet needed, plugs into the wall and
gives 550 watts out carrier. Keep it cool. Parts are a bit hard to find but keep looking.
DAN_TAYLOR_EX_N9GT Rating: 2006-03-05
A Real Workhorse! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought my SB-200 a couple of months ago from another ham who was afraid to use it and needed the money. Not knowing the condition of the amp, I bought it up slowly on a variac, and other than burning some dust off, it seemed to be working ok. I hooked it up to my station and it tuned up fine. Since then, I have replaced the output tubes and installed the Harbach power supply (now in kit form) as well as a new cooling fan. The thing sits here and runs great. So for less than a $500 total investment, I have a like-new amp that I know will perform for many years. I also purchased an amp keyer (in another review) that I use between my ICOM 706 and the SB-200. For an older amp, it is still a good value and built like a tank.
W5KG Rating: 2006-03-05
Can't be beat Time Owned: more than 12 months.
With 600w-700w out I will give it a 4 as a stock amp.
Easy to work on with a lot of room inside. But as with all amps if you don't what your doing keep your hands out of it. The voltages can kill you!!!!

After rebuilding PS with new caps, resisters, and diodes, the PS runs much cooler.

I then droped filiment voltage to 6.2v to save the tubes. Diodes for protection for the meter. Changed the caps in bias line.

Added a stepstart. Next will be a soft key.

With all this done I would rate it a 5.

You can find one for $300 stock or $400 with mods I think it is still a good buy. I bought mine for $200 knowing it need work.

I have another amp but this one I like the best.