Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Kenwood TL-922A

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 : Kenwood TL-922A
Reviews: 66MSRP: 1200
Description:
160-10M 2K PEP- cct resembles SB220, with 2 x 3-500Z tubes
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.rigpix.com/linears/tl922.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14664.5
KE4EKW Rating: 2002-07-01
Incredible Attention To Detail Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my Kenwood TL-922A a few years ago when AES had the amps on closeout. Compared to several other amps I have owned, it has the absolute best attention to detail and construction I have ever seen. The amp does not put out the full legal limit (1,500 watts) due to the somewhat light power tranformer (you would never know the transformer was undersized if you pick the amp up - it weighs 77 pounds!). My amp puts out a solid 1,300-1,400 watts with graphite tubes all day long. I have noticed the "Q" to be very high during tuneup, since the power adjustment is very precise. I did have to replace my Eimacs with Amprex Graphites due too the corner tube being somewhat restricted to the front tube cooling air current. Since replacing with 3-500ZG, I have not had any more problems. A very well built amp, certainly worth the approximate $1,000 on the used market.
LA4WKA Rating: 2002-06-24
Good after modifying Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this amp 2. hand. It was very nice, only the tubes was messed up.
So, new tubes, and modified as described by Richard Measures, described here: www.vcnet.com/measures
(also selling the modification kit, and a nice e-mailing help from him durig the work)it is now running very quite and fine. No sledge hammer relay noice, but quick QSK and only the fan summing. Input SWR was adjusted, and now fine on all bands.

This is NOT an ACOM 2000, but you dont pay that price either :-)
ZS6AN Rating: 2002-06-01
EXCELLENT ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my TL922 new in 1983, and have never had even the slightest problem with it. Have used it for SSB and CW contesting as well as high intensity DX operations (when I was ZS9S). Well built, rugged and reliable. Excellent service from the 3-500Z tubes. This is one item that will never leave my shack.
EA3BAV Rating: 2002-05-18
Correct Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
1ยบ Amplifier in my station,in de moment is very good.

73 de Emilio/EA3BAV
KA1BQJ Rating: 2002-05-11
Built Link A Tank Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After searching for several months, I recently purchased a TL-922A used from AES. I had the opportunity to visit the store and see the amp in person before buying it and it's the first piece of used gear I've ever purchased. It's in near mint condition and puts out about 1KW with 120 volts AC and 100 watts drive. I changed the amp over from 240 volts and expect it would have put out more power had I left it that way.

I'm impressed with how well the amp is constructed and I'm thankful for how well the previous owner cared for the amp. Must have been someone that really appreciated the quality, also.

You can find these around for about $800 - $1300 depending on the condition, etc. I paid top dollar for mine because of condition and the warranty provided by AES.

Too bad Kenwood chose not to keep this amp in the product line. I have an Ameritron amp that is in excellent shape, but the construction is no comparison to the TL-922.

I know Kenwood sells the TL-933 in Japan. If that amp is built like the TL-922A and they decide to sell it in the US, I'll be an awesome addition to my shack.
VK2UW Rating: 2002-02-06
For Kenwood TL-922 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had several Amplifiers including:
Dentron Clipperton-L
Yaesu FL-2100B
Yaesu FL-2100Z
Ameritron AL-80A
and the Yaesu FL-7000, {Clean the dust out of yours and others "TV's"}

The TL-922 that I purchased only twelve months ago,
is in mint condition and has the bigger fan for cooling those 3-500z tubes and is very quiet.
The TL-922 had the hour meter fitted from new at Kenwood, when I purchased it last year had only 100 hrs of use, I have added quite a few hrs since then, some 637hrs in total now.
And pleased to say with Richard Measures Mods not one single problem.
So I am one very happy customer.

P.S. No TVI problems or interference at all,
all comments on air have been very clean and all very supportive of the TL-922.
I use the Kenwood TS-850sat with the Goldline microphone and run the Oskar block SWR-200 between the TS-850sat and the TL-922.

My Antenna is the Hygain-204BA and with this combination it is a DXers Delight.
SM2OTU Rating: 2002-02-06
my best buy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my TL922A for more than 15 years. Never had any trouble with it. It's been in use a lot but both the inside and the outside are in mint condition.
PA9KL Rating: 2001-10-20
Good Amplifier Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Good Amplifier, but the fan is very loud.
Does somebody have experience with other fans?
Please send info to gmorbach@t-online.de
Thank You, 73...

Guido
CT2HME Rating: 2001-05-20
How to recover one Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got this amp from a contester. He had it stored for some years and it was all dusty inside.
Here is what I did when I got it:

removed all the dust
new tubes
new capacitor bank
new fan
replaced some burned out panel lights
replaced the zener bias diode
replaced all components on the rectifier board
adjusted input swr

The result?
1300W on 10m
1600W on the lower bands.
Runs quiet, cool and stable for hours and hours.

If you know your way inside an amp, and if you find one of these for a nice price (maybe in storage because someone decided a brand new Alpha was the way to go) then you'll have a very nice amp.
All parts are still available from Kenwood dealers.
Make sure you check the band switch for vaporized contacts.
Changing the band switch on this amplifier is not only difficult but also a long and tedious job.
The fan is *very* quiet but the relay noise is loud.
There are ways around the relay noise, and many other mods to this amp. Just check Rich Measures web page at http://www.vcnet.com/measures
Anyway, after rebuilt, I just forget it's there and it just pumps out power all day long.
Old maybe, but a great amp with quality components inside. For the price they are going right now you can't beat this.

NN2X Rating: 2001-03-25
922 RF AMP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works very Well, never had a problem, Works non stop, I would highly recommend it, I had this Amp for over 5 years,
I also owned other Amps such as HeathKits, and others, 922 for me was superior