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Reviews For: Alpha 8410

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

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Review Summary For : Alpha 8410
Reviews: 114MSRP: 5395
Description:
The Alpha 8410 utilizes an enhanced version of the bombproof RF deck, found in the Alpha 99 and Alpha 8100. On the 8410’s control board you’ll find a microprocessor that allows us to normalize amplification performance, calibrate the power and gain metering for each specific band, and increase reliability and durability. All of these functions aggregate into a single greater benefit for the user, ease of tuning. The 8410 comes standard with USB and serial ports for remote monitoring and performance data logging. The power supply stack found in the 8410 has been designed for maximum durability and reliability, while allowing for extremely easy voltage tap changes.

This amplifer is handcrafted, designed, and built in Boulder, Colorado, USA, comes with a 4-year warranty.

Tubes: 2 x 4CX1500B Tetrodes
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.alpharfsystems.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001144.9
N7WX Rating: 2010-07-15
Another winner 10+ Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hi hamsters..

This is my 6th Alpha starting with the vapor cooled PA-70V..Two 76's, a 77SX and now for a back-up I have a three tube mint Alpha 374A that works just like the day it was built...The Alpha 8410 is a real work
horse..No problems with it..Just sits there and put outs a very clean 1500 watts as long as you want..The team at Alpha is top notch with their sevice and info..Buy one and think of it as a very good investment..Never lost money on a ALPHA. Unlike our bank accounts HI..
former_W6ZD_MJ Rating: 2010-07-14
Works great on AM Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've owned my 8410 for about a year. What a powerhouse on SSB!!

The reason I persued the 8410 was it appeared to be perfect for use on AM, and the performance in this mode is AWSOME! I use it with an Icom 756 PROII and the reports are excellent. About 25 watts drive yeilds 400 watts of carrier output, and the headroom for the 6dB modulation peaks result in absolutely no reports of flatopping.

Join us on the Amplitude Modulation International (AMI West) net on 3870 Khz Wednesdays at 0300Z and hear the sweetest sounds in ham radio!
K4JAF Rating: 2010-07-13
Great Amplifier Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased my Alpha 8410 in April of 2010. Ordered on a Friday and the amp was in my shack by the next Wednesday. I have used the 8410 on all bands and modes during the past few months and has performed superbly. Thirty watts input give an easy 1500 out with lots of headroom, the amp is just loafing along at that power level. The construction and parts are first class. Alpha stands by their products and a quick telephone call gets a knowledgeable person on the line.
I am sure the 8410 will be playing many many years from now. Jim K4JAF
N2ETJ Rating: 2010-07-13
Better than a TImex Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After many months of using the 8410 it is time to give my review. FANTASTIC AMP !!!! Had the 99, had the 8100, both were excellent choices but this new 8410 is so much smoother... rarely tune, just go by the numbers when changing bands and seems to be more broad banded from end to end. The 4cx1000 was a great move. Not much more I can say about ALPHA except "ask an Alpha owner" All the staff at Alpha are the best in the industry and will be there for you IF you ever have any questions. I would definitely buy again. Just buy it and enjoy..... probably the last amp you will every buy.
W5JMW Rating: 2010-07-12
IT's A Alpha !!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
After owning 2 76pa's and a 99,all which were great amplifiers,when it came time to upgrade the decision was simple.The 8410 is a dream to operate.Tunes easily and the safety shutdowns are fast as they should be.Really like the choice of tubes that is used.They are a proven tube and avaliable.I simply can not find a fault with it.Another great Alpha and surely to go down in history as one thier best.
VE3ES Rating: 2010-07-11
MAJOR AMP!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Having run a home-brew (by someone else) HF amp for a few years with four Chinese made 811A tubes in it I was eager to trade up and get a real amp. Sitting on the bench these days is a "new to me" Alpha 8410 amp running a pair of 4CX1000A tetrodes. I was expecting something that was going to keep the shack warm during the winter months. Turns out that the amp is actually quite cool in operation. This is a used amp for me but was clearly in mint condition when I picked it up after a short drive south of the border for the big purchase. This is not a cheap, light weight amp. The home brew amp that is now collecting dust in the basement. The Alpha runs quietly, puts out a full power signal with little effort and simply put, will not be leaving my shack. Ever!
W4BQF Rating: 2010-04-12
Excellent amplifier Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Although I've only owned this amp for about 3 months, I am very impressed with it's operation. You immediately get the feeling this is going to be a work horse! I have tested it's full QSK, with my IC-7700, at speeds up to 120 wpm and it took two dots to break me. (This is very important to me) It puts out the full legal power of 1500 watts and could go further, but why push it? I have used it in several CW contest and it just sits there and works. The thermally controlled fan kicks up to second speed at about 50 degrees C., a little noisy but I'm getting used to it. The workmanship, both mechanically and design wise is very good. Tune and Load controls can be reset with great accuracy, making band changes during a contest quite easy. Yes, the 4CX1000A tubes are Chinese made, but unlike some of the present Russian tubes, these should be around for a long time.
I will post later after more operation and contesting, but I am very happy with my 'last' amplifier purchase.

Tom - W4BQF
K6AER Rating: 2010-02-15
Solid Design Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the amplifier over a year and the only problem I have had was a tube flash over early in its life. The screen resistor and tube was replaced under warranty and the amplifier has not had a problem since. Tube flash over can happen with any tube and it was probably an infant mortality issue. I have had flash over incidents with all the tube manufactures and this should not reflect on their use of Chinese tubes in the production units. I would still go with the VTX-X118’s tubes over the Eimac 4CX1000A’s for the Chinese tubes have better gain and require much lower drive. The tubes look identical to the Eimac units and the quality is top notch.

I went over to a friend’s home and forgot how noisy some amplifiers can be. His amplifier using an 8877 was made in the South East and was almost 20 dB louder than the 8410. My amplifier is only 12 inches from the station microphone and nobody hears the amplifier on the air.

The tune and load are by the numbers and the settings of not changed over the past year. Lately I have done a bit of RTTY and PSK-31 DXing and have run the amplifier in the continuous 100% duty mode and it does just fine. Most of the time the power output is 1000 watts and the fan will kick into the mid speed when using a 100% duty cycle.

I opened the amplifier for its yearly cleaning and there was a normal collection of dust which I used compressed air to clean the inside. It is important to make sure the cooling fins and the blower fins are clean. Dust in these places will greatly reduce the cooling efficiency of the amplifier.

I am very satisfied with this unit and I am sure this will become a legacy unit moving the bench mark up higher in amplifier design.
KJ0Y Rating: 2010-01-31
BEST OF THE BEST Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I TOO WAITED ---ORDERED IN JULY 09 RECEIVED NOVEMBER 09----------THEY WILL BE ON INVENTORY IN VERY NEAR FUTURE AND THAT PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED ! BELIEVE ME IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. I HAVE OWNED ALOT OF AMPS OVER THE YEARS AND THE ALPHA IS BY FAR THE BEST I HAVE EVER OWNED!!! YOU WILL BE AMAZED WHEN YOU PULL THE TOP CABINET OFF TO INSTALL THE TRANSFORMER.--QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION IS SUPERB ! THE ELECTRONICS ARE SO ADVANCED THAT IT IS BOMB PROOF! TOP QUALITY COMPONENTS ARE USED! EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR TUBES 2- 4CX1000A'S THEY WILL BE AROUND FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THE FAN IS A TUBE AXIAL FAN AND BOY IS IT QUIET! ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO OPERATION I HAD A TUBE FLASH OVER AND THE AMP SHUT DOWN IN LESS THAN A NANO SECOND. WAITED APPROX 20 SECONDS AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT HAS BEEN RUNNING GREAT EVER SINCE! HAVE ABOUT 300 HOURS ON IT NOW AND I COULDNT BE MORE HAPPIER . ALPHA HAS A WINNER HERE. 20 WATTS OF DRIVE ON 80MTRS PUTS OUT 1150 WATTS, AND THATS WHERE I RUN IT. IT TUNES EASY AND BY THE NUMBERS. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE 8410 AND VERY HAPPY WITH ALPHA SUPPORT WHEN I HAD QUESSTIONS TO BE ANSWERED.
I HAVE TO RATE IT A 5.0 AS I CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT IT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LOWER RATING. "GREAT JOB ALPHA" CONGRATS TO THE NEW OWNERS---------------- KJ0Y
K4TM Rating: 2010-01-31
Outstanding amplifier! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Used at a contest station and, like a Timex, it "takes a licking and keeps on ticking!" K4TM