Any manufacturers still using LM3886 in their current designs?

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SStringAudio

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Joined 2020
#1
Are there any commercial manufacturers still using LM3886 or similar chip amps in their current designs?

If not, why commercial manufacturers shy away from it?

Also the above search lead me to these two patents. I wonder what they are patenting? Their specific modifications to the Typical Application circuit?

Like the Op-Amp buffer?

CN106953607A - A kind of single channel audio power amplifier based on LM3886
- Google Patents

CN105048976A - Power amplifying circuit based on LM3886 chip
- Google Patents
 
#8
Micromega MyAmp uses them with resonant mode supply. Around 600.00 USD. I saw another one, sure it is limited distribution Moonriver. It is priced at 5,000.00. Did not measure as well as many DIY.
In the grey between DIY and manufacturer we have Neurochrome and Akitka. Both sell kits and completed units, Neurochrome may be kit only again.
There is a significant price difference between these two. Hear great feedback for both.
 
#13
Somewhat expensive here but I´ll probably use it in my soon to be series produced 50W hybrid Guitar amp.
The other option is a 50W discrete amplifier based on TIP121/126 .

The deal breaker either way will be whether I can secure a supply of 50-100 chipamps or not, don´t want to get stuck with a lot of empty PCBs.

If not, or complicated, will go the discrete route ..... meaning yes, they are still used, still an interesting option for new designs.
 
#14
Output current is the only limiting factor. For 8 ohm load a LM3886 is perfectly suited. For 4 ohm loads, usually dipping down below 3 ohms at some frequencies a single chip struggles.
Many have paralleled them to allow driving almost any loudspeaker. There is more to paralleling them than connecting two chips.
The Jeff Rowland model with three in parallel and bridged was an example that these can output real power. A friend in New Braunfels purchased one, loved it. He sold it and had sellers remorse. Looked for another. Said it was fantastic. Realized that after replacing it.
I can usually spot amplifiers that use a LM3886 chip. If you see a 50 watt power rating for 8 ohms and 60 - 70 ohms for 4 ohms the majority of recent build amps use a single LM3886. Like the new Leak.
 
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#15
JMFahey said:
Somewhat expensive here but I´ll probably use it in my soon to be series produced 50W hybrid Guitar amp.
The other option is a 50W discrete amplifier based on TIP121/126 .

The deal breaker either way will be whether I can secure a supply of 50-100 chipamps or not, don´t want to get stuck with a lot of empty PCBs.

If not, or complicated, will go the discrete route ..... meaning yes, they are still used, still an interesting option for new designs.
Click to expand...

That is quite a reassuring message. I was just wondering whether using in new designs is a bad idea.
 
#18
True.
Only difference betweenn today´s reality an that of this 2021 thread is that during the chip shortage crisis it became all but impossible to get reliably.
You might get a couple here and there, but no steady supply for serious manufacturing.
 
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