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Reviews For: Ameritron AL-572 (all models)

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

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Review Summary For : Ameritron AL-572 (all models)
Reviews: 74MSRP: 2400
Description:
1300 Watts PEP SSB nominal power out on 160-15M. WARC bands and 10 Meters with reduced performance - user modified for 10/12 Meters with license. Uses four 572B tubes
Product is in production
More Info: https://mfjenterprises.com/products/al-572
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00744.1
K8BHS Rating: 2010-01-04
Great so far Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just purchased the al572 a couple of days ago and so far I have been very pleased. I didn't have any problems getting 1kw out with the 120 volt hook up, i will be changing to 220 volt in the next day or so. I have worked several DX stations with ease using a inverted V and running about 500watts.
KA3DNR Rating: 2009-09-20
Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hello Folks,

This is a darn good amplifier. I get 1200+ W key-down on house wiring.

If you are getting low output, get the HV up to 3000V, via changing the transformer taps (very very easy to do).

There is a mod that I will be doing: http://www.k6jrf.com/FT2k_AL572.html

I appreciate Rick @ Ameritron speaking with me for as long as it took to fix I problem that I caused.

Regards,

Marc
VY1EI Rating: 2009-07-16
Solid performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this amp for a year and half now. It got me through last year's contest season with no problems. It puts out an honest KW. One of the tubes was bad, and a dial was missing a screw. Very happy with it, you can't do better without going up to 220 volts.
KB8E Rating: 2009-05-06
No Issues Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this amplifier 9 years ago with the Svetlana tubes installed. No real issues. Tunes up nice and makes 1 kW+ with 50 watts drive. Works best from a dedicated 220-volt line, no flickering lights, voltage sags, etc. Also, tapped primary to reduce HV to 2500 VDC no-load. No change in performance and the next set of tubes (if there ever is any) should appreciate it. Installed QSK-5PC kit and it works well. Recommended, only reason for not a 5 is that good 572B tubes are apprently hard to come by now.
AE9DX Rating: 2009-02-13
Good Amp! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First let me say I've heard and read all the bad reports about this series of amp and have not experienced any of them. I bought this amp used on e-bay for $350.00 over 7 years ago and it still is going strong. That said, I did replace all the tubes with a matched set of Taylor 572B's and get the advertised 1300 watts out with 100 watts drive. This has been a good solid consistant performer for me and it gets daily use for DXing. For the money and the power out it's a good choice!
W3NRL Rating: 2009-02-10
Sweet Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I traded for this unit and sent the unit to Ameritron for just going over and getting a clean bill of heath, also managed to get 4 Taylor 572b's and wala and sweet!!!!
I recommend this amp
K1LEM Rating: 2008-11-03
Bad Tubes as sold Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just took delivery on a NEW Al 572, I owned this rig before I moved from New England and it was a powerhouse when working. However, the tubes supplied tend to gas arc causing damages.

Oh, yes, I never learn, the new amp just arced and took out a 50 ohm resistor, Q2 and Q 3 in the bias line. I called Ameritron and after a little help the tech told me to check the four tube bases, 50 ohm resistors, to discover which tube was bad. That done the bad tube was discovered, leaving only three more tubes to arc, at some other date.

I am an engineer retired and know how to swing a soldering iron, so they are shipping me two 50 ohm resistors, and Q 3 and Q 2.

I should have known, this amp is only a good as its tubes and you should save yourself aaggraation, just buy four balanced 572 B Taylors from RF Parts and not even try using tubes supplied.

Over all this amp is a lilttle work horse with near legal output at a cool temperature, but beware of the bad tube issues. This problem has not disappeared.
W1ZE Rating: 2008-08-06
Works well Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have used the 572 for about six months. When I first fired it up one of the el-cheap-o
572s had a short in it. MFJ sent a replacement quickly. Since then the amp has worked very well.
PROS: Works as advertised
Good bang for the bucks
CONS: Cheap Chinease 572s.
KA2ZNI Rating: 2008-07-14
One terrific Amplifier Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
When the original tubes are replaced with Taylors look out... This thing really wakes up and get's with it. I wired it for 220 immediately, I feel anything Kilowatt status or plus is only doing it favors.

The amp is easy to tune, I have had it going on a year and the thing has been trouble free, even occasionally using it on AM while keeping the Plate current at .275 mills and the plate voltage at about 2600 volts when keyed, yields roughly about 250 watts, which is what it should be rated at with a little headroom for asymmetrical modulation.

The Amplifier on SSB with Taylors/220 volts yields about 1400 watts out and I have run it continuously that way for extended periods on 20 meters with no ill effects or excessive heat build up.

In today's market where the prices of amps is going thru the roof, this one you cannot beat for the the price, durability and output in an inexpensive tube.
KB3LAZ Rating: 2008-05-26
Not Bad Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The 572 is not a bad amp, nor is it a great amp.
Iv had it for around 5 months now. Relatively quiet fan. Keeps cool rather well after extensive use. However the output power stops increasing at about 65w of drive, which only gives me around 900w. I only have 110 in my shack but others swear that I should still get full output power. So Im going to switch to 220 and see if It will do full output then. If not 900w will suffice. Although i will continue to run at about 1kw. I just think running 1200+ w with these tubes would only shorten their life. Not a bad amp but if I were able to do it all over I would just buy the 811H!