This raises an intresting question: Is the single/double crowns THAT much better? I mean good enough to justify around or well over USD100?Looks like if you can find a real one you'll be well over $100USD. From what I've read and heard there is considerable risk of buying a fake.
Regards,
Dan
When I built a TDA1541A DAC, I put two chips in parallel. Paralleling several chip is an old tried and tested technique for reducing inconsistencies by averaging out the measurements across the chips and flattening (making more consistent) the response. Having a double crown eliminates the need to do this, as the double crown has no notable inconsistencies. It is for those that want the top 1% of measured chips and to to eek out every last bit of consistency across the spectrum from this chip and related designs.
Two things that make me suspicious:
- lasering instead of white printing;
- datecode 0449 (didn't Philips stop making these ~1996?).
Also had one original 200x chip. That one did not have print but it was laser engraved with a different font. That one came from Marantz.
When there is demand things get produced. Always wondered why so many new TDA chips exist. I can not imagine that Philips made 100.000 extra for keeping in stock
When there is demand things get produced. Always wondered why so many new TDA chips exist. I can not imagine that Philips made 100.000 extra for keeping in stock