Toshiba 2SC3281/2SA1302 - Are these fakes?

[kec]

Hello All,

I recently received some Toshiba 2SC3281 & 2SA1302 transistors from Parts Express. I'm concerned about these being fakes. I've attached an image of what I received. I was thrown off by the 2SA1302 being green in color.

Has anyone received authentic parts from Parts Express?

Thanks for your help,
-kec

[ashok]

I have the same colour devices as you have. They also look identical including the printing. I bought these in Singapore. I bought them several times from different shops and they all look the same. They also work fine. Your devices look just like mine and so should be OK. Besides Parts Express will not play games with customers.

[janneman]

kec,

I have bought these in the past from Dalbani in the US and have recieved both black and green ones, with no apparent difference in performance. I wouldn't worry. I mean, if you were on an assembly line making these transistors, wouldn't you want a change now and then, if only in the color?

Jan Didden

[JensRasmussen]

I beleave they are fakes, since the typing is not in line with the casing on the green one (The 2SA1302A was green on the older models). Also there must be either an O or an R to tell what range the HFE is this is missning on the 2SA3281A.

The housing must be about 20 * 25,5 [mm]

I beleave that Toshiba has now replaced them with 2SA1943 (PNP) and 2SC5200 (NPN)

So any transistors bought now are either old or fakes.

ONsemi has them under the name MJL3281A/1302A

\Jens

[P.Lacombe]

As far as I know, ON MJL3281/1302 are not as linear as Toshiba 2SC3281/2SA1302, and can cause more distortion in very high quality amps.

Regards, P.Lacombe

[Jean]

Here is my pair that I bought from Mouser.com about 2 weeks ago.

[kec]

Thanks for the image Jean

It looks like the only difference on mine is I have 8K instead of 7J and I'm missing the 0 on the 2SC3281.

Jens, Are you sure there's supposed to be O or R ?

I posted this question to Parts Express and Jeff confirmed they
are indeed original Toshiba parts.

Thanks for the help,

-kec

[scottnixon]

Don't know about the ones above, but these be the deal.

[ashok]

Kec,
I would think that you should try to measure out the hfe and the HV breakdown limit of the devices you have. Alternatively use it in a simple power amp and see if it works well. I have seen slightly different priniting on power devices before but never had a problem. Instead of worrying yourself ,just use it and see if it works fine.

[Samuel Jayaraj]

I believe that these could be original Toshiba parts BUT manufactured in China. This is the trend now with many manufacturing companies. The parts do work, but may not be upto the standard of original Japanese parts.