Todd;
Have a Centurion here on the desk. It is a workhorse and delivers near legal
limit with 100 watts of drive. The book says 1200 watts output but the Bird
43P meter into 50 ohms gets near 1400 on a couple of bands. All other bands
are in the 1100 to 1300 watt range. I like the fast turn-on / warm-up of
the 500's. The 3CX800's are about 2 minutes from switch-on to ready to
operate due to heater warm-up requirements to bring the cathode up to
temperature.
Most HF transceivers are very comfortable and consistently output 100 to 110
watts which drives the Centurion to rated output. The Titian can be easily
overdriven with today's transceivers and at the costs of some very expensive
and rare tubes. Just for 300 or 400 watts output too. That is less than 1/2
S unit on the other end.
I view it this way:
Centurion = good operating amp for day-in and day-out work.
Titan 425 gold = Expensive collectors item.
73
Bob, K4TAX
----- Original Message -----
From: "MTodd Miskel" <kd7efq62@hotmail.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 7:14 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Need Amplifier advice please.
> Hi Gang, I currently own a Centurion amp with brand new tubes in mint
shape.
> I am considering buying the Titan 425 gold edition #49 advertised earlier
on
> here. I've weighed the pro's and cons of both, but still can't decide. I
> know the 3cx800 tubes are expensive and scarce, and that some parts such
as
> the plate current meter are no longer available. However, I like the lower
> drive requirement and legal limit power of the 425 gold. Also the 425 is
> somewhat of a collector's item. The centurion is still produced, 3-500zg's
> are still inexpensive, and it is a forgiving amp, but it takes 100w drive
> for 1200 watts.
>
> I'd like some input as to which one to go with as I can't have both, Hi
Hi.
> 73, Todd-KD7EFQ
>
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