Thanks.
Yes, of course I have imported many times before, either using registered Customs agents or smaller operators, depending on order size.
Here I will play it very safe, no time to order a sample, test, another, test, and so on, from unknown suppliers, so I guess I will straight order 1000 UTC TDA2050 from Profusion UK, their price is right at 540u$ for 1000, plus fees, shipping, and of course our own Customs tariff and "nationalization" paperwork, registered Customs agent fees. etc.
Some U$1000 will give me 1000 chipamps which can go straight into product without a hitch. that alone is worth it.
In fact, I can kill two birds with a single stone, single 2050 for safe 25W into 4 ohm for home practice amps and two bridged for 50W into 8 ohm for a small "live use" amp, becoming a "poor man´s LM3886" equivalent.
Not bad at all.
In fact, I can even design a dual use PCB, carrying one or two, that simplifies production and inventory, how´s that?
so going back to my reason for this post, ive decided to change my design to use 1875 and have been vigorously working on it in eagle. now mine is just a hobbist project and the only loss i suffer from it my time and energy (i did spend a whole year refining this 3886 composite amp...) but to those who actually make living off of their 3886 designs, pay their bills with it, i cant imagine how much of blow this shortage has been.
not to get all political here but TI is one of those 'evil' corporations that receives government bailouts. i feel that it wouldve been ethical of them to give us heads up about the 3886's obsoletion.
not to get all political here but TI is one of those 'evil' corporations that receives government bailouts. i feel that it wouldve been ethical of them to give us heads up about the 3886's obsoletion.
I thoght declining volumes had something to do with the decision to stop production.
ST also have reduced AB Class chip amp production.
Do not expect a Studebaker to stay in series production just for you.
ST also have reduced AB Class chip amp production.
Do not expect a Studebaker to stay in series production just for you.
Probably controversial, but I'm quite happy to see the LM3886 go. The spike protection wasn't great and the output stage had a tendency to exhibit parasitic oscillation with 4R loads. I certainly wouldn't use it in any new design.
There are newer designs, and the market has moved to Class D....so not much left to keep alive.
Bought 4 pairs from him in Jan this year and using one set as of now and going great.
https://jdp-ic.en.made-in-china.com...L-Tda2030L-To220-Audio-Amplifier-Speaker.html
0.08 TO 0.15 US each...
0.08 TO 0.15 US each...
I always buy by the unopened carton if at all possible, , cheaper and better to anybody, less trouble at Customs, etc. but here I "accept" PLC suggestion; if one of their options is by the thousand, so be it.
Just wrote Shenzen "Lisa Huang":
Dear Lisa, I am interested in 500 or 1000 UTC2050A
Are you providing the exact model and are they made by UTC or an alternate supplier?
Or is it a generic "chipamp in a TO220 case"?
If so, who actually makes them?
Please quote product price + whatever UPS (my preferred carrier) will charge for the delivery, if you can copypaste the UPS page showing their quoting for this delivery even better.
Thanks and hoping to start a fruitful commercial relationship
Straight and to the point, let´s see what they answer.
Otherwise Profusion UK wins, if anything, because of transparency.
The problem with ordering from China is some folks require prepayment and then disappear. Check the internet for the vendor’s information. One I looked at had his 5 star review first and all the rest about paying and no product or additional response.
Although I have had good luck getting obsolete repair parts that were clearly pulls, for really less than the price of a bag of peanuts!
Although I have had good luck getting obsolete repair parts that were clearly pulls, for really less than the price of a bag of peanuts!
I continue to wonder where folks like Naresh and Donovas get their 'information' ( and then perpetuate the fake news and big lie) that the LM3886 has been, or is being, obsoleted. That is simply not true. Go look at TI.com -- product status is listed as 'active'. If it were going away, that would be reflected as 'NRND' or 'Lifetime Buy' status before actually going obsolete. All reputable semiconductor manufacturers that I know of follow an orderly notification process when products meet their demise -- the obvious place to look for this information is the product pages on their web sites.
Again, for the umpteenth time, he problem with availability is called the worldwide semiconductor shortage. And, it's not just semiconductors that are unobtainable due to huge lead times -- it's true of resistors, capacitors, relays, etc., etc. Semiconductor companies have far more orders than they can fill, and thus must prioritize their big customers, automotive customers, industrial customers, etc. -- folks with whom they have contractual agreements to provide material and for which they pay penaltie$ if they don't supply. Scarce production capacity requires prioritization, both of what products to build and how much of each of them, and to whom to ship the finished goods. I expect that shipments to general distributors who supply us DIYers is not at the top of the pecking order.
I can't buy a Raspberry PI 4B from any reputable distributor, and most of them have ceased publication of any sort of 'in stock' date. I don't think that means that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has closed up shop.
So enough of the untruths about the LM3886 status. And enough with perpetuating that false information on this thread. Also, let's cut out the unhelpful comments about these unknown Indian or Chinese semiconductor companies that make their own 'just as good' versions of LM3886 -- no one seems to actually have seen them, whereas lots of folks have been burnt buy buying counterfeit chips of all sorts from dodgy sellers on eBay, AliExpress, random web sites, etc.
Again, for the umpteenth time, he problem with availability is called the worldwide semiconductor shortage. And, it's not just semiconductors that are unobtainable due to huge lead times -- it's true of resistors, capacitors, relays, etc., etc. Semiconductor companies have far more orders than they can fill, and thus must prioritize their big customers, automotive customers, industrial customers, etc. -- folks with whom they have contractual agreements to provide material and for which they pay penaltie$ if they don't supply. Scarce production capacity requires prioritization, both of what products to build and how much of each of them, and to whom to ship the finished goods. I expect that shipments to general distributors who supply us DIYers is not at the top of the pecking order.
I can't buy a Raspberry PI 4B from any reputable distributor, and most of them have ceased publication of any sort of 'in stock' date. I don't think that means that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has closed up shop.
So enough of the untruths about the LM3886 status. And enough with perpetuating that false information on this thread. Also, let's cut out the unhelpful comments about these unknown Indian or Chinese semiconductor companies that make their own 'just as good' versions of LM3886 -- no one seems to actually have seen them, whereas lots of folks have been burnt buy buying counterfeit chips of all sorts from dodgy sellers on eBay, AliExpress, random web sites, etc.
The issue is that I do not know of your experience, or the volumes you deal in.
As for 3886, nobody has stock, and there is no definite information about delivery.
Some threads seem to be disguised attempts at judging demand, which was not very ethical, we had a person claiming to be a consultant in the semi business in another thread. When challenged, his tone changed, and the thread died, it was here on this forum.
As for equivalents, there is a difference between TI and equivalent.
Given the reputation of the chip, and threads about taming it, I have no desire, or the time, to build one, I have other priorities.
Truth is nobody has commercial quantities in stock, and production ceased or dwindled before the lock downs and disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.
What stock is left is hobby / repair man quantities in private hands, but Indian suppliers have populated PCBs for sale, which means they are equivalent, not TI.
I am not going to buy a board and evaluate it in comparison to a non-existent original chip, even if I take the trouble to arrange instruments, just to prove my point about the quality of Chinese chips.
We have a city called Delhi, it is a vast market, material sold is ranging from excellent to junk.
So that will happen in China too. You have to choose your suppliers.
We are a little old fashioned and behind the times here, we actually have shops selling these parts, and having a 25+ year relation helps, they tell me if good or bad.
I am a person who does his own repairs, and assembles kits if needed, my volumes are minimal. All local purchases, if sourced away from my city, through the merchants here.
If you think I am not telling the truth, please locate a full carton of the original chips, and put it up for sale in single or tube quantities.
Fair enough?
As for 3886, nobody has stock, and there is no definite information about delivery.
Some threads seem to be disguised attempts at judging demand, which was not very ethical, we had a person claiming to be a consultant in the semi business in another thread. When challenged, his tone changed, and the thread died, it was here on this forum.
As for equivalents, there is a difference between TI and equivalent.
Given the reputation of the chip, and threads about taming it, I have no desire, or the time, to build one, I have other priorities.
Truth is nobody has commercial quantities in stock, and production ceased or dwindled before the lock downs and disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.
What stock is left is hobby / repair man quantities in private hands, but Indian suppliers have populated PCBs for sale, which means they are equivalent, not TI.
I am not going to buy a board and evaluate it in comparison to a non-existent original chip, even if I take the trouble to arrange instruments, just to prove my point about the quality of Chinese chips.
We have a city called Delhi, it is a vast market, material sold is ranging from excellent to junk.
So that will happen in China too. You have to choose your suppliers.
We are a little old fashioned and behind the times here, we actually have shops selling these parts, and having a 25+ year relation helps, they tell me if good or bad.
I am a person who does his own repairs, and assembles kits if needed, my volumes are minimal. All local purchases, if sourced away from my city, through the merchants here.
If you think I am not telling the truth, please locate a full carton of the original chips, and put it up for sale in single or tube quantities.
Fair enough?
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Raspberry Pi is availibility like how many weeks back order?
Nowhere near 99+ for 3886, and different electronic parts sites will have similar delivery times.
Bear in mind that 3886 has been in erratic supply for about two years, so that is a long time for TI to have taken any action.
Also, tell us all how many do you need, and how many in a month or a year?
Maybe some could be sold from private stocks of members here.
Also, Tom Christensen has not posted much on this thread, he has done a lot of work on 3886 modifications, he also sells kits, I think.
He should be able to get the production information from TI, I think.
Nowhere near 99+ for 3886, and different electronic parts sites will have similar delivery times.
Bear in mind that 3886 has been in erratic supply for about two years, so that is a long time for TI to have taken any action.
Also, tell us all how many do you need, and how many in a month or a year?
Maybe some could be sold from private stocks of members here.
Also, Tom Christensen has not posted much on this thread, he has done a lot of work on 3886 modifications, he also sells kits, I think.
He should be able to get the production information from TI, I think.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/raspb...o-buy-right-now-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
(5 April 2022)
'Upton says the Pi 400 computer with a keyboard is readily available because the company reserved BCM2711 silicon supply for it. The microcontroller Pi Pico, based on the RP2040 in-house chip, is also in stock.'
This is easier to obtain than 3886...
(5 April 2022)
'Upton says the Pi 400 computer with a keyboard is readily available because the company reserved BCM2711 silicon supply for it. The microcontroller Pi Pico, based on the RP2040 in-house chip, is also in stock.'
This is easier to obtain than 3886...
https://hubtronics.in/lm3886, seems a different chip in photo.
These guys say 9000+ in stock, and down they are saying discontinued:
https://www.ic-sources.com/ic-sources/LM3886T_81583709.html
Ali Express: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...8081454.html&usg=AOvVaw26lfZGSEaB4HHxRzqKbX79
Caveat Emptor, do not involve me...
These guys say 9000+ in stock, and down they are saying discontinued:
https://www.ic-sources.com/ic-sources/LM3886T_81583709.html
Ali Express: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...8081454.html&usg=AOvVaw26lfZGSEaB4HHxRzqKbX79
Caveat Emptor, do not involve me...
True i shouldve picked my wording more carefully. But i am in no way intending to spread disinfo. I said obsolete because people said it on this thread and it sure has to be treated as such for small scale operators like me- 35 week lead time is way too long to keep on developing a design with the unavailable component. It either has to be scrapped or sidelined indefinitely. If thats not what obsoletion does then im speaking goblygook 😆
Maybe somebody should ask TI for a plain answer, not in lawyer speak.
Their reply should be infornative.
Their reply should be infornative.
I'm the originator of the thread you refer to. One reason I stopped contributing to that thread is because I got tired of having to address your accusations and truth bending. It was a major distraction from the topic I and others wanted to discuss. I didn't say I was a consultant for the semiconductor industry -- I made it clear I provide design consulting to a manufacturer of consumer audio products. The former was your invention. Please stop inventing controversy. It doesn't help members of this forum.
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Accepted, my memory was that you were a semi retired professional in the audio component business, and you were thinking of making equipment in the USA, IIRC.
As a consultant, the actual work would be done by others.
I have not gone and read the thread again.
And your tone changed after I accused you, and asked you to use your contacts within the industry to find out the position, as to production of the chips.
Since then, the question has been hanging in the air, and the situation is still officially unclear.
In view of your status, and contacts, please update us.
As a consultant, the actual work would be done by others.
I have not gone and read the thread again.
And your tone changed after I accused you, and asked you to use your contacts within the industry to find out the position, as to production of the chips.
Since then, the question has been hanging in the air, and the situation is still officially unclear.
In view of your status, and contacts, please update us.