On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 01:54:11 -0500, C. J. Clegg wrote:


Looking for the best all-tube general-coverage (0.5-30) receiver I can
get.

Need good operation on SSB and CW and capability on AM, along with
sensitivity, stability, ruggedness, and availability of replacement parts
e.g. tubes (that last one might be difficult...).

I'm thinking Collins 51Jx or R-390, although I remember that I really
liked an old Hammarlund I had once...

Would like to stay under $1000 but if I had to I suppose I could go as
high as $2000 for something that's really mint.

What do you guys recommend I look for?

I have 2 in mind: the Rohde & Schwartz EK-07 - It works great on SSB as
well, but R & S made a sideband adaptor for it, and the Siemens E311,
which has a built-in product detector and selectable sidebands. It is the
last generation of high-end professional receivers with tubes.
The EK-07 outperforms the R-390A, but it's more complicated to service.
The Racal RA-17 or RA-117 are not bad, but not as good as the first two I
mentioned.

73, Meir WF2U