Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: SPE Expert 1.5K-FA

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : SPE Expert 1.5K-FA
Reviews: 14MSRP: 4800
Description:
Solid state Linear amplifier with switching power supply, inbuilt automatic ATU, weighs only 9.5 Kg (19 Lbs) and handlde easily 1500 Watt
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.spetlc.com/it/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15144.7
ZL2AUA Rating: 2022-12-02
Great bit of kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I chose this amp because of its reputation and its excellent specs, and now I've had it up and running for a couple of weeks I think I made the right decision. It is the Mark III version, which if I am reading previous reviews here correctly, exhibits a few improvements on the older ones.
The legal limit in New Zealand is 1000 watts, which happens to be the "MID" setting on the amp, so I don't have to fiddle anything. With the automatic ALC connection to the IC7410 or the old IC735, the amp just takes as much or as little power as it wants. And 1kW from a device capable of something like 1.8 means it's really just loafing along. In "STANDBY" the ALC reverts to whatever your radio will do (i.e.,100 watts), but you still get the full benefit of the auto-tuner.
The manual is only slightly daunting, and it is vital to read it several times before plugging the thing in! Setting up the autotuner takes a few minutes, but it is absolutely essential to do it meticulously before attempting to fire the amp up.
I built a pair of CAT cables for Icom's CI-V connection, using the opto-isolator circuit suggested in the manual, and was delighted to find that the amp does exactly what it says on the tin. It tracks either radio's receiver frequency (if you listen very carefully you can just hear the auto-tuner's relays clicking as you scroll up and down the band), so it's always ready to roll the instant you put the key down. It will have selected the correct antenna (of the four possibilities) and the tuner will be on the receive frequency. I don't know how the thing would react to cross-band working, and I don't intend to try it.
All in all, I am very happy with this amp.
DK5WL Rating: 2021-03-30
Excellent amplifier from 160m to 6m! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my SPE 1.5K-FA 10 days ago and made already several hundred QSOs in SSB, CW and FT8 so far. Acoustic noise is very low, ATU is working fine.
With just about 10 kg weight excellent for DXpeditions!
VK4TUX Rating: 2021-03-30
Great automatic & remote SS Amplifier Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
A good workhorse covering HF and 6m.
Excellent CAT control and software support.
K8ROX Rating: 2021-02-28
Has failed 2x since purchase in Oct 2020 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Follow up on my review since I received the amp back from Expert Linear. The amp required a replacement final. Bob from Expert Linear indicated there was no indication of why this failed. I inquired about the use in digital modes. The concern is more about operating temperature than output power. Bob is recommending 50°C max temperature for any mode. So if you are a contester, heavy digi mode or remote operations this may be a concern. Bob and the team at Expert Linear are good folks to work with and are fast with repair services.
SP5QIP Rating: 2020-04-03
Money well spent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I owned 1k-fa before, so 1.5k-fa is a natural progress for me. 2k too poor $/Watt ratio.
Amp runs much quieter, ATU does it's job when needed. Full remote setup running.
VK4SX Rating: 2020-02-12
POST NOV / DEC 2018 SPE 1.5 are SECOND SERIES Time Owned: more than 12 months.
And a completely different animal to the Standard First Series SPE 1.5 KFA?
check, press CAT touch twice to see " SECOND SERIES"
noted under FW date,
CAN NOT COMPARE First & Second Series amps,
same deal with 1.3 SS etc,
there is a SPE 1.5 K FA SECOND SERIES list.
VK4SX
W3DIY Rating: 2020-01-27
First experience with SPE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The 1.5K arrived Dec.22. I was not too concerned with buying a newly released amp since it is based on the 1.3K.

TXing into a 5 band Optibeam the SSB output is 1.5KW+. TXing into a 40M 2 element monobander, with an SWR between 2.5:1 and 3:1 depending on the band segment, the SPE A/T does a FB job of matching with an output of 1.4KW.

These PO readings are from an LP-100A which closely matches the SPE display, with 10W of drive!

During several lengthy rag chews at full power the fans were noticeable after a few min. but nothing like my previous PW1.

Imagine carrying a legal limit amp using one arm without effort.
SPE has a winner IMO.

Update...
If operating with wire antennas, fluctuating SWR caused by weather conditions, may force a reset to a lower power. This could cause an overdrive condition and may result in a LDMOS failure. Contact SPE USA for details.
NN6EE Rating: 2019-03-13
UN-PARALLELED IN PERFORMANCE Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
For slightly more than $4300 SPE has created a 1.5 kw solid state AMP PUTTING OUT AS ADVERTISED A FULL 1.5 KW with NO HICK-UPS EITHER!!! MONEY "WELL SPENT"!!!
KD2JVX Rating: 2019-01-20
Outstanding fully automatic Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had the 1.5k-FA for just short of a year. it harmoniously connects to the ic-7300 with the cables you should buy. In these conditions it is just what the doctor ordered - i am busting through pileups and having rag chews across the pond. The US service is excellent. I called Bob the day after Thanksgiving, he was unable to pickup at that time but saw a strange number and called it back which was to me! Hihi. He cleared up my issues which was a misunderstanding of the autotuner. If in the antenna selection screen you choose the letter t next to the antenna is means it will not tune that antenna.

A few minor issues: the software is rudimentary and port conflict prone in Windows 10. No solution but to reboot. It will only tune up to 3:1. if your antenna is hovering around 3 it will not tune so you can forget your G5RV. That said it works fine with a myantenna 80-10. i have worked HP all bands.

the radio settings have to change to use the amp, so you have to undo cat control and digital operation settings to make the amp work properly.

If you are looking for hands off automatic operation with instant band switching this is the machine for you.
EA6NB Rating: 2018-07-11
A very good amp Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have been operating a new SPE 1.5K for several months and is a pleasure to use, it is very similar at the 1.3K but this one needs to be driven from 25w to 40w for full output, you get about 200w more in MID and MAX position. I use most the amp in MID Power to get about 800 and 1KW CW with no thermal issues at all, the fans works fantastic and hardly any noise at all the amp is in front of me in a shelf at my ears height it does not bother me.
The ATU is very fast also no problems.
I have use the amp with different transceivers at the Dummy Load and LP100A I get at MAX 1500W all bands and 1000W at MID position on CW carrier.
I think it’s one of the best solid state amplifiers in the market if not the best if you compare size, weight and features.
Thanks Guido.
Jaime, EA6NB.