[TenTec] Looks like company is fading away

[Duane Calvin]

I bought a Centaur from TT new when they were still on the market, but I had
issues with internal arcing and fan noise.  Plus, one of the mini-toggle
switches failed after a year of use.  I traded it in on a Centurion and I
really enjoyed that amp.  The bias transistor failed when it was only a
month old, but they shipped me a new one and walked me through the
replacement (not an easy fix due to the difficulty in removing the bias
board.)  When Alpha briefly shut down, then re-opened, I ordered the first
of the new Alpha 99 amps, and sold my Centurion.  I miss the "instant on" of
the 3-500's, but the Alpha is a very solid amp.  I should add that the
vacuum relay in it failed in the first three months, but, here again, Alpha
rushed me out a new one and gave excellent help in guiding me through the
replacement.  I could have shipped either amp back for repair, but who wants
to do that with an amp and esp. the transformer!  

	73, Duane

Duane Calvin, AC5AA
Austin, Texas
www.ac5aa.com  




-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2015 6:12 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Looks like company is fading away

On Sun,1/25/2015 10:41 AM, Robert P. Santella wrote:
>   now they dropped the Centurion Amps

Alpha is primarily a power amp company, with a great reputation for high 
quality and high prices, but the company has changed hands several times 
over the years. The Centurion competed with the Alpha product line, but 
at a much lower price point. Who knows -- it may show up with the Alpha 
name on it. Or sales may have fallen to the point where it was no longer 
profitable. No one could accuse Ten Tec of being a ball of fire at 
marketing, and from where I sit, Alpha seems not a lot better at it.

Rhetorical question. How many on this list own a Ten Tec Power amp? I 
own four -- three Titans and a Herc II. How many own a different brand 
of power amp? I own two -- an Elecraft KPA500 and an Alpha 1010. When is 
the last time you bought a power amp FROM Tec Tec?  I never have -- all 
have been used.

73, Jim K9YC


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