Texas Star DX 350 CB Radio Amplifier Review

When most people discuss amplifiers the master topics that come up are output power and amperage describe. Nearly radio enthusiasts are looking to run the largest amp possible with the to the lowest degree amount of amperage draw. Now right away I'll tell you that if you are looking for something that delivers a lot of bang with low amperage pull than this is not the amplifier for you lot.

A somewhat more than rare amplifier discussion will be heard betwixt operators who mainly apply SSB. They will talk nearly how "make clean" their amplified signal is when it comes out of the amplifier. Most CBer's on AM don't actually care if their indicate sounds distorted or scratchy, they just want to be loud. On SSB if you lot run a overmodulated or distorted station often people in DX land will have trouble clarifying y'all in, or will overlook making contact with you because of the way y'all audio. And that's one of the reasons the Texas Star line of amplifiers is a favorite of people who run SSB.

Texas Star Amplifiers are claimed to exist AB biased which would brand them a good selection for SSB performance. Now I've read some discussions online that technically the Texas Star amplifiers are not a true "AB" biased amplifiers but for the purposes of this review we will call them a AB biased amplifier in comparison to how other "Export" amplifier are rated for biasing.

The Texas Star 350DX uses two Toshiba 2879'south transistors which are rated for 100 watts PEP each at 12.7 Volts

At present most vehicles and power supplies are prepare to run higher than 12 volts and with that actress voltage these transistors see higher output, and then even though the transistors are rated at 100 watts each at 12.7 volts when you run them at 13.8 volts or 14 volts you'll see college output. Almost people on average will run these on AM with PEP input of xx watts boilerplate @ 13.8 volts and you'll run into effectually 225-260 watts PEP output. A number of different factors volition effect the output of your amplifier and so information technology could be expected that in different setups people may see higher or lower numbers than mentioned here. A proper install with the necessary rated power wire is essential in getting the total potential out of whatsoever amplifier.

I've seen the Texas Star 350HDV (2 x2879) advertised equally having maximum output of 350 watts PEP, but truthfully most operators will never run across the maximum advertised output out of their amplifier. In add-on to run an amplifier at maximum produces a large amount of oestrus, requires higher input and maximum commanded voltage, and the end result is that your amplifier will non concluding as long.

In about cases two x 2879 setups are happy to chug along at 225-250 watts for years without difficulty. I tend to find also that if yous are running your amplifier in this range it'south less likely that you are overdriving it and volition have a cleaner bespeak.

This amplifier doesn't crave a whole lot of deadkey input. I institute that a 1 watt deadkey on AM would get me an 80 watt deadkey out of the amplifier. I had to plough down input to .75 watts to get the amplifier deadkey to drop further. I'm sure this amp could handle a two-3 watt deadkey just in most cases I'm guessing running the amp at a 60 to fourscore watt deadkey and swinging upward from there volition yield the all-time results.

Now back to the clean signal attribute of this amplifier. People who want a amplifier with a clean bespeak (relative to other consign or CB blazon amps) choose this amplifier quite often over the class C amplifiers as the Texas Stars are known to produce a cleaner signal. This comes at a price though, the Texas Stars will likewise describe more amps than most other amplifiers in the aforementioned power output range. This means that to become the same amount of power as some of the course C amplifiers the Texas Star will oftentimes depict a one/4 more amps to reach the aforementioned numbers. With a proper install and enough amperage from your alternator though this really shouldn't be a defining effect.

For daily SSB use the Texas Star amps practise deliver a very clean sounding signal. In testing with other stations we constitute that the Texas Star gave a sound very shut to that of the barefoot radio with the master alter existence louder sounding sound when running the amp. In terms of an increment in point strength locally a test from xl miles away yielded an increase of two Due south units betoken with output at 220 watts compared to a barefoot output of xxx watts.

The Texas Star line of amps is hands identified because of their unique use of push buttons instead of the switches or toggle switches commonly seen on other amps. I don't know the rational backside using these blazon of switches but they definitely requite the Texas Star amps a different await. Personally I believe over time that other types of switches would terminal longer and be less likely to be effected by dirt and wear, just in that location are many aging Texas Star amplifiers nevertheless out there and working perfectly so perhaps my deductions are flawed.

This particular amp has a ON/OFF button, a Pre-Amp receive button, an AM push and a SSB button. These buttons low-cal up when depressed letting yous easily know which style or function you are using. They have a positive engagement feel, although on a couple of occasions I did find myself pressing the wrong push button when non paying attending. The amp has a heat sink on the bottom, but does not take a fan. While running it for 15 mins with keys every couple of minutes with PEP of around 230 watts this amp did not heat up much. I had been told that these amps volition commonly get warm during apply and I expect if driven harder that would be the case, but calculation a fan to this amplifier would be quite easy.

Bated from a make clean sounding approachable signal the other attribute of this amp that actually impressed me was the Pre-Amp receiver. Out of the all the amplifiers I've ever owned I've only seen ane or two where the Pre-Amp working well enough to fifty-fifty consider using it. The Texas Star Pre-Amp function on the 350DX works surprisingly well. Information technology amplifies weak signals very well without the mutual trouble of pulling in a ton of static and electric noise. I know on some other pre-amps I've used that when you turned them on all yous heard was louder static and the far off stations but disappeared altogether. Not the case with this amp. I tried it on multiple occasions on both AM and SSB and it worked really well.

In testing of this amplifier I did encounter a high SWR trouble during deadkey testing in the mobile. In one case modulation was introduced the SWR went back to normal levels. When tested on the base of operations though I did non come across this problem, so it was specific to the mobile install. I've heard from other people that these amps are known to accept some SWR problems on occasion so although I won't call it an inherent problem it's something to exist aware of.

The case construction of the Texas Stars would exist my only other complaint, they use the thin metal removable top piece seen on many of the older style amplifiers. I much prefer the stiffer build of the cases as seen in the Magnaforce line. If they could beef up the construction just a little chip I call back information technology would add to the durability of these amplifiers.

These amps take a overnice big meter only the one I received for testing had a broken meter. It was easily replaced and fastened in two points to the main board with some quick soldering.

Overall I'grand impressed with the performance and betoken quality from these amplifiers. Their pattern will appeal to some simply non others. They are great on SSB but they will pull more amps from your electric organization than other like amplifiers. Output numbers were equally expected and during use I didn't run into any heat issues. The Pre-Amp really surprised me and if that is a feature that you similar to have on your amp then I would definitely consider the Texas Star line.