[TenTec] Looks like company is fading away

[Mike Chatfield]

I purchased a new Centurion a few months ago, always wanted one and am 
not sorry I bought it. It looks like it may be one of the last ones sold.

Mike
W0BBC

On 1/25/2015 6:34 PM, Duane Calvin wrote:
> 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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