Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Ameritron AL-572 (all models)

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 : 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
N3WBS Rating: 2006-01-01
Nice Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got the amp for christmas this year, And works 100%. On 17 mtrs I had to retune the input as it seems to be set up for 15 mtrs. After tuning I ran some test's to see how it stood up. The run down of the equipment is as follows: Icom 756 pro 2,Yaesu YS-60 peak watt meter,Radio Shack Digital peak meter, Mfj 1500 watt oil filled dummy load. First things first I set the voltage at 240 volts,and modified it for 10 meters. The results are as follows.
All at 100 watts of drive. Plate voltage 2850 volts DC. All readings are PEP.
10 mtrs, 1500+ watts Seems to really like this band best!!
17 mtrs, 1400+ watts
20 mtrs, 1400 watts
40 mtrs, 1500 watts
75-80 mtrs, 1450 watts
160 mtrs, 1475 watts
The amp is really easy to tune and the factory presets are very close to actual. The fan is very quite and the meters are pretty close to actual. Ameritron has really done a good job on this amp and underate it by a bunch. It is a nice starter amp at under $1400.00.
You wont go wrong buying this amp.
WD0CT Rating: 2005-07-24
good power with light weight Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Here is an amp about 10 lb lighter than a Sb220 with the same power.

I bought mine used and the Svetlana tubes were a bit soft. It also had some goofy stuff added to make the keying relay activate with the presence of RF [ala cb type keying] scabbed in it. The bias circuit was also messed up and the amp was drawing too much zero signal anode current.

Aa ameritron tech helped me out with sorting these problems over the phone and sent the needed parts for free or very cheap - can't remember for sure.

I put in a new set of Taylor 572b tubes in it, wired it for 240v and it became a pretty sweet amp. 240 was mandatory at my house. It just would not put out any worth while power on 120v.

The band switch did arc once. Inspection showed this to be some hair or fuzz near the switch. It was okay after blowing it out with an air compressor.
WZ9Y Rating: 2005-05-29
High Power Great Price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well I can't yet vouch for how long the amp will last but it sure works like a champ for now. 1300 watts for a great price. I will review again after a year and let everyone know if I have reliability issues but I have been beating the heck out of it the last two months especially on 75 and 20 meters and it's been doing fine. Had some arcing issues that turned out to be a Cable Experts cable and a tuner that couldn't handle the twin lead very well (no balun). Now running a Nye Viking tuner and replaced patch cables but the amp took the abuse and kept running and everything is working fine now.
K9AUB Rating: 2005-02-08
Good amp, when it works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought new in 2002, worked OK in the beginning. Then, the troubles started. Had lots of arcing problems with the tubes. Blew many fuses, blew 2 out of 4 grid resistors. Blew D-117. Replaced, continued having problems, more blown fuses. Amp was wired for 240v, my line voltage is 235, so it should have been a happy amplifier. Replaced tubes with a known good set from a Dentron Clipperton-L, but they started arcing, too. 2800v on the plates of a 572-B tube is just too high, I believe. This amp needs first class tubes, which seem to be tough to get out of China. Ameritron says 572-B tubes don't sit well on the shelf, and should be less than 6 months old to work. Well, maybe so, but if they'd cut plate voltage to 2200 or 2300 volts, I think most of the arcing problems would be solved. 2800v on the plates seems like just too much for Chinese 572-B's. If I had it to do over again, would I buy this amp? Maybe, maybe not. Most of the problems with this amp seem to be with the poor quality of currently available 572-B tubes, not necessarily the amplifier. I think something with 3-500's would be the more reliable way to go. Someone needs to talk an American manufacturer into making tubes again. Meanwhile, where's the Viking Thunderbolt when you need it?
KB9WL Rating: 2005-01-28
happy with purchase Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
overall a great value -- however, take care with the small screws holding the cover -- the 12 vdc on the back makes it easy to power a slave relay -- I used a reed relay from Radio Shack -- it is, indeed, easy to tune -- am getting about 1100 - 1200 out with tired '850s - got a 100 v benefit from 240 vac - time will tell re: the tubes, but reasonable care will pay dividends -- really like being able to see "them bubs" -- best part is...didn't have to build it!
KT4WN Rating: 2004-12-04
Gets the job done Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is my second AL-572B amplifier. Sold my first AL-572B after relocating; after regretting the mistake, I bought another AL-572B. The unit has been in operation now for nearly 2 years and continues to work perfectly. With 100 watts of drive I get more than 1300 watts output pep depending on the band. Although, I also own an ameritron AL-1500, I continue to use the AL-572B the majority of the time.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KT4WN on 2001-08-10

I picked up an AL-572B from HRO despite the amps past history of tube failures. It appears that the tube issues have been resolved. Since taking delivery on the amp, I have been very satisfied. Output is good; I,m actually getting more than 1300 watts pep with full drive. With 40 watts of drive I am getting 900 to 1000 watts depending on the band. This is a great desktop amp well worth the price.
N3TOG Rating: 2004-11-07
Multiple problems with amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this amp for several years, worked pretty good in the beginning. After 9mos. the problems started, the impedance started to rise between ic746 and al-572, I compensated via the internal tuner. Power slowly began to drop 900w/600w/400w/zip. Sent amp to ameritron, they replaced the tubes, while in shop I use the fl2100b, never a problem with that. Got the al-572 back worked okay, but problem started over again, sent it back got new tubes. fl2100b still workin fine. Problem is starting all over again, impedance going astray, power dropping the more I use it. No longer under warranty. System is well grounded using 1/0 stranded to 8ft copper rod, swr's seem fine mfj versa tuner in line mfj989c. Think they're putting in cheap tubes, I have had several amps, no problems like this thing.
EW1CK Rating: 2004-11-02
Really better than I expected Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Just for your info, 572B tubes have never been produced in Russia. As far as I know, Svetlana's 572b are assembled outside of Russia, have no idea where, but China or USA are most probably place.
Anyway, it's not corresponding to AL-572 quality.
There is difficult to find 572b tubes in Russia and my QTH as well. American tubes are expensive here, Chinese tubes are cheap, but quality is not so ideal.
I bought my 572 used and really surprised when I compared my AL-572 with AL-80 schematic, they look like the same except tubes. Deeper investigation shows that a number of tube types could be matched as replacement of 572, because of excellent schematic of AL-572. Good job, Ameritron!
The major conclusion: if 572b becomes discontinued, you can use other type.
Right now, the pair of GMI-11(just a good glass russian tubes)is used as replacement of four 572B(30-40USD for pair of never used GMI-11, not kidding). I’m sure that Ameritron’s designers have never kept in mind this tubes, however, amplifier works well and output power is similar to original. Tube sockets and cathode transformator was replaced for 24 volts output only, no more mods.
W9FDA Rating: 2004-10-27
Super Amp Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought this amp used. It had the Russian tubes in it and I had some problems with power output. I bought 4 matched Taylor 572B tubes for the AMP and it has worked very well since. I would recommend the Taylor tubes for this amplifier.

Dave
W9FDA
K7PEH Rating: 2004-09-12
Excellent Amp Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have owned this amplifier for about 4 months now. Purchased from HRO and had to wait because of a shortage on tubes. But, it was worth the wait. This is an excellent amplifier.

It tunes as easy as pie -- it is almost a no-tune amp in that I can usually run the whole band without a tune up on my dipole antennas. Great power output, probably about 1300 watts. I rewired for 220 since I did have a 220 circuit into the shack but my 110 circuits are getting heavy use.

I highly recommend this as a startup amp (your first linear) or a second amp, or like me, you main base station amplifier. Someday I may buy a QRO HF2500DX only because it does provide full legal punch on each of the bands plus I like buying toys. But, I will never part with my AL-572, it is a keeper.