[sdiy] LM394 vs MAT-02

[Peter Grenader]

I was originally using the LS312 (it's slightly more tightly matched -
spec'd at .2mV, but the units I got were much better than that).

I found the LS site while I was looking for ua726's once.  Didn't think
anything of them, bookmarked the site, blah --  but didn't try them until a
few months later as the LS312 was recommended by a tech named Julie
Yarlborough as a replacement for the AD811 when I was putting together a the
parts to build a Buchla 259 kit for Guido (which I was VERY fortunate to
squeak out of). 

The 312's were great, but it was Linear System's Don Howland (GREAT guy) who
then recommended  the higher gain 318 as he felt it was better suited for
VCO stability due to having half the sheet resistively of the 312 (basically
it turns on easier) which would make for better tracking across the audio
range.

Did it make a difference?  Honestly...I'm not  sure as any gains were
deluded by a major error found about that time in my expo converter -- I was
starving it's current which had my tracking at 2.7 octaves max.  Three
resistor value changes later, I was up to 7 octaves. In any event, I
continue to use 318 for a plethora of reasons, mostly due to a "if it works
don't screw with it" mentality but above that the guys at Linear Systems are
really terrific.  They're a low volume foundry themselves and therefore
really support the small guys.

Now, until recently when the VCO backlog was finally blown out, i WAS using
MAT's on my own VCOs - not because I felt they were better, because I got
them as samples and I was saving the LS devices for customer's units.  When
I finally switched them I did notice a sonic difference between the two,
particularly with expo FM.  The LS sounded a lot smoother than the MAT.

I apologize for the (for me, typically) non technical response here.  I'm a
hack as you know and in lea of technical chops I use my ears more than
anything else in component selection.

hope this helps -

- P