160m – 10m

Bands

1.5 kW

Output

2010

Introduced

Frequency	1.8-29.7 MHz (all amateur HF bands)
Bands	160m, 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m
TX power	1500 W (1500W minimum on all bands, all modes, all duty cycles, key down continuous, no time limit.)
Modes	All modes: SSB, CW (full QSK), RTTY, digital, all duty cycles
Weight	38 kg (83.8 lb) - Ships in two double boxes: amplifier + transformer packed separately. ~85 lbs estimated total.
Connector	SO-239 (4× BIRD connectors, changeable to Type N from back panel)
Year	2010

Connectors

rf in	SO-239 (TX RF input)
rf out	4× SO-239 BIRD connectors (automatic antenna switch, changeable to Type N)
rs232	RS-232 (remote control + diagnostics)
usb	USB (remote control + diagnostics)
ac in	AC mains (built-in power supply)
power req	AC mains (220 VAC typical). Built-in power supply with separate transformer.

the Alpha 87A successor, single 8877 tube, easier to source, same auto-tune magic single 3CX1500A7/8877 high-power triode in grounded grid, Class AB1 (3300V plate, 9.4V cathode) chosen specifically for tube availability: used in MRI amplifiers, tens of thousands made yearly worldwide same RF deck as Alpha 87A but with single 8877 instead of two 3CX800A7s fully automatic microprocessor-controlled band change and tune-up autotune from stored values + automatic tweaking when power applied manual tuning mode also available 45-60W drive for full 1500W output 3:1 SWR tolerance without external antenna tuner (Pi-L matching network, silver plated, hand made) 3rd order IM: <-30 dBc internal 4-port automatic antenna switch (4× SO-239 BIRD connectors, 1 or 2 outputs per band/segment) full QSK break-in with vacuum relay RS-232 AND USB ports for remote control and diagnostics from PC forced air cooling handcrafted in Colorado, USA, tuned by hand, burned in overnight at full power before shipping 4-year amplifier warranty + 1-year tube warranty WARNING: HIGH VOLTAGE (3300V), LETHAL! DISCONTINUED. Alpha RF Systems provides support

Strengths

The Alpha 87A's successor with better tube availability. A single 8877 (kept in production for MRI use, unlike the 3CX800A7) delivers 1500W on all bands, modes, and duty cycles. It has a 4-port automatic antenna switch, RS-232 and USB remote, a full-QSK vacuum relay, and 3:1 SWR tolerance. It is handcrafted in Colorado, burned in overnight, with a 4-year warranty.

Weaknesses

Discontinued. $5000-7000 new / $3500-5000 used. 85+ lbs. AC mains only. High voltage (3300V); lethal. A single tube (the 87A had two, so redundancy is lost). Alpha RF Systems support is limited.

Verdict

The 87A's successor with a more available tube. The Alpha 9500 took the 87A's auto-tune RF deck and replaced the two increasingly scarce 3CX800A7s with a single 3CX1500A7/8877, chosen for long-term availability. The 4-port antenna switch, RS-232/USB remote, and full QSK add modern conveniences. Handcrafted in Colorado, burned in overnight, with a 4-year warranty.

The Alpha 9500 is the modern flagship of the Alpha amplifier line, an automatic, full-legal-limit HF linear that does 1500 watts on every band from 160 through 10 meters including the WARC bands. Like the legendary 87A before it, the appeal is in the automation: send a few dits and the amp identifies the band, switches, tunes, and loads in about a second, driven by a bank of microprocessors and motorized capacitors.

Where it differs from the Alpha 87A is under the hood. The 9500 uses a single rugged 3CX1500A7 (8877) triode rather than the 87A's pair of 3CX800s, and it replaces the older PIN-diode switching with vacuum relays for clean full break-in QSK, directly addressing the 87A's one notable weakness. It adds a built-in four-port antenna switch, an auto-sensing power transformer, and a large bar-graph and numeric display.

It was certified and reviewed around 2010, and at a list price near ten thousand dollars it sits at the very top of the market, though it has been on extended backorder rather than active production in recent years. For something more attainable, vintage amps like the Henry 2K deliver legal-limit output with manual tuning at a small fraction of the cost.