Care and feeding of C839?

[danielwritesbac]

I'm really a newb as far as a transistor is concerned.

But, now, I have several good reasons to use them.

I do have a wonderful little portable amplifier that uses a "C839" as an audio preamp for signals that are less powerful than line level. This sounds wonderful when connected with my handmade radio. And, that is the very purpose for specifying C839. For the project, as there are 6 radios to be made, I need several additional units of this transistor.

First, I can't seem to find "C839" transistor on the market.
Perhaps its known by another name or there is an identical equivalent?
How to buy some?

Thank you!

[lineup]

http://www.datasheetarchive.com/
remember,
transistors with Cxxx is most often short for 2SCxxx
2SC839
... sometimes we even see SC839

SC839

Transistor. FM/AM radio RF amp, conv, osc, IF amp . Collector-base voltage Vcbo = 35V. Collector-emitter voltage Vceo = 30V. Emitter-base voltage Vebo = 4V. Collector dissipation Pc(max) = 250mW. Collector current Ic = 100mA.

Might be possible to find such transistor. Maybe obsolete.
But there should be good replacements.
http://www.datasheetarchive.com/ has got Replacements/Equivalents search in menu.

[lineup]

the same goea for japanese transistors marked:
A123
The full name should be 2SA123

[danielwritesbac]

It appears to be obsolete; however, its audio talents are desirable to me.

2N3707, 2SC380, 2SC941 have not yet been discontinued.

Which do you think would be the closest match, and do you think I'm making quite the mistake in trying to use one of these for audio frequency, while its also nearby the coil of an FM radio? It seems that, no matter now nice the little dealy does sound, it may be much better to choose a transistor that can't go above 80mhz. What do you think? And, what would that be?

EDIT: Hey Lineup! I'm so glad you're the one to be answering the "good sounding transistor" question. Our audio preferences are so similar, I think.