[Amps] Sunset of old technologies

[Catherine James]

Mark Hill <g4fph at mjha.co.uk> wrote:
> Chasing price points of $1500, or less, for a new, commercial HF SS amp. will remain hard to impossible
> even in the long term, I think, due to the various 'overhead' that comes with the technology.

Well, that's where the demand is.  I don't have sales figures on amps, but I would bet that those
priced $1500 or less *far* outsell higher-priced models. 

Tube amps will never go away until either (1) tubes are no longer available,
or (2) the $1500 price point for SS amps is met or broken.  Most hams will never trade up to the expensive models.

The median household income in the US is still about $50K, and while the price of many luxuries
has dropped, the price of fundamentals such as home, college education, automobile, etc. has gone in
the other direction. Many consumers have less disposable income today than their counterparts did in the 1980's.

> Icom chose not get too greedy when they priced the 7300 (about $1500 US here) and these have sold very well.

They know that the mass-market is where the money is. It's all about volume.

I lean toward Kenwood, and I'm eager to see some kind of next-generation TS-2000 / TS-590SG based on the new SDR tech.

73,
Cathy
N5WVR