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Reviews For: Alpha 9500

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

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Review Summary For : Alpha 9500
Reviews: 122MSRP: 7950. USD
Description:
Fully-automatic 160-10M amplifier, successor to the 87A. Uses a single 8877 tube in grounded-grid configuration. Integrated antenna switching, full QSK with vacuum relay.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.alpharfsystems.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001224.8
W9KTP Rating: 2012-10-01
Great Amp/Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I rewarded myself on my 70th birthday with the Alpha 9500 and couldn't be happier. I was very careful sliding the transformer into the chassis since there are circuit boards on one side and components on the other. It took a few tries but it fit beautifully. It was a pleasant surprise that the amp automatically selects the antenna and settings when I key my ICOM 765 (which doesn't have a lot of the fancy features newer rigs have). I've gotten 599/59 reports on all my DX contact so far. Why did I wait so long?
FORMER_W4GV Rating: 2012-09-24
Great product, great service Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I love this amp. Traded my Alpha 86 and got a great trade in on it. Bought the old Alpha in the mid 90's for a little over $2000. Got $3700 on trade. Talk about retaining value. The auto tune is great and it runs cool on all bands. Had one issue a week ago. Molly worked with me and after exchanging some pics, I got the nrecessary repair parts and was able to get the amp back in operation with little delay and no expense. The ability to operate remotely using usb connectivity to the shack computer is great. The amp is big and heavy. It doesn't take up valuable desk space leaving more room for all my other rigs and accessories. Thank you Alpha for a great product.
W1YJI Rating: 2012-09-23
The latest in a long history of quality amplifiers Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought my first 9500 when it was first announced. I am the owner of every amp Alpha has made since the 374, and still own a 76, (2)77dx, a 77sx, 78,and 87a. I recently traded my original 374 towards another 9500 during RF Concepts trade up offer, and will use this 9500 as the anchor of a newly constructed second location. As I approach my 60th year of being licensed, it is nice to see quality equipment still being made and supported.

Lloyd W1YJI PJ7LT
KT7E Rating: 2012-09-21
Alpha 9500 the best yet Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had 4 RF Concepts amps. 2 UHF/VHF amps which worked super. I've also had 2 87As that I think I only ever had maube 3 or 4 faults. The new 9500 is just super makes the fifth. Molly was very fair with the 87A trade in. The 9500 makes the 5th Alpha. Is more quiet than the 87A. One less expensive tube and easier to get. The software lets you make changes on the fly manually if you wish that I can monitor from another screen. Alpha's customer service is second to none. They are awfully proud of their product and have every right to be. Job well done!

73 Joe KT7E
WF2S Rating: 2012-08-16
Service After the Sale A+ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Update of my review.. When setting up the new amp, it faulted repeatedly, shutting off all systems except the LEDS.. After a phone call to Molly consulted the techs and the answer was immediate. The following morning FedEx picked up the amp and returned it for further examination and repair. A defective FET in the Plate monitoring circuitry was causing the problem and in less than 7 working days the amp made the roundtrip to Colorado. Easy on my part and no cost to me. Molly kept me informed by phone and email. The best part is that I was told any further component issues and RF Concepts would replace the amplifier with a new one. My amp was a demo with a full , new warranty.. This impressed me after having had warranty issues with another brand name amp
Service after the sale is worth the $. Now, back to RTTY contesting..
W4AK Rating: 2012-07-24
Best of the Best! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
On the advice of Julius, W5RIM, I purchased the Alpha 9500. It is without a doubt the best of the best! The four antenna ports
facilitates changing bands and/or frequency a snap! For example, if on twenty meters, simply change the radio band/frequency,
(in my situation the IC-756ProIII) hit the key, pronto! It’s on that band/frequency of my choice! One could say, the Alpha 9500 functions
better without "Human” intervention! "Look Mom no hands!"

Never, in my sixty five years of Hamming have I owned, enjoyed, or operated such a beautiful, expertly designed, engineered,
precision built, piece of equipment! The Alpha 9500 "blows" the others away in any mode!

Conversing with Molly at RF Concepts, was a warming experience! Molly knows any and everything one may need to know,
technical or non-technical in terms of the RF Concepts products, including the 9500. Thanks for being there Molly(Mom)!

I would like to thank Julius, W5RIM for his kind input.

Would I encourage others to purchase the Alpha 9500? You-Bet I would! Happy Alpha operating!

Cheers,

--Bill W4AK (W4-Alpha Kilowatt!)--
W8BLA Rating: 2012-07-23
None Better! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After many years of pondering the expense I am glad I did finally pull the trigger! This is one amazing amplifier. Its easy to unpack, get on the air and does everything as advertised. The amp is at full "legal" limit with 35 watts of drive from the K-3 and is far quieter than my 87-A Could not be happier. Have owned one of every Alpha except the 77 series and it is the pinnacle of success. Don't wait "buy one" !!!
W9RPM Rating: 2012-06-21
Top of the Heap! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Had this amp for a few months now, and am very impressed. Great on QSK, and really like ease of updating the software of the amp. Ran the amp hard in the last contest, and never skipped a beat. Well worth the investment. 73 John
NV6W Rating: 2012-06-20
Awesome QSK amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently acquired this amplifier second hand from a world-famous ham in Solano County, and have been running a lot of CW from the home QTH since. This rugged amplifier featuring QSK has consistently performed well. I'm busting late night pile-ups on 75 meters first call, with no tune-up required. In general, the design is excellent; no operation issues to date. Thanks.

NT5V Rating: 2012-05-23
Easy to use Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Have had my 9500 for 3 months, and am very happy with the amplifier. Although you have the ability to autotune or define personal presets, I read the manual, installed the transformer, and begin using the original presets. Frequency sensing is incredibly fast and accurate. I still use the original presets and get 1500 watts out on all bands with 40-45 watts drive. The 9500 is well built with top quality components so I expect this to be the last amplifier I buy.