[sdiy] LM394 vs MAT-02

[mark verbos]

wow. and what kind of prices?

Peter Grenader wrote:

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> mark verbos wrote:
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>>what are their minimum order requirements?
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>>mark
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>>Peter Grenader wrote:
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>>>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
>>>
>>>
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