[sdiy] SSM2164 last time buys

[David]

SmallBear has them in single quantities for $3.50, IC V2164D

Good for the hobbyist.

David

-- -----Original Message-----
-- From: synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl [mailto:synth-diy-
-- bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of blacet at blacet.com
-- Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 8:35 AM
-- To: synthdiy diy
-- Subject: Re: [sdiy] SSM2164 last time buys
-- 
-- The Cool Audio IC is 1/3 the price but a $2000 minimum order is required.
-- They also charge a $100 handling fee for orders under $5K.
-- 
-- You can still buy the Analog device IC in smaller qtys.
-- 
-- I have never personally dealt with Cool, having bought some in a group
-- buy. It took quite a long time for delivery.
-- 
-- John
-- 
-- 
-- > Hi,
-- >
-- > Tom Wiltshire wrote:
-- >> Don't know if everyone is aware of this. If not, be advised.
-- >>
-- >> Analog Devices have listed SSM2164 as "Still In Production but Not
-- >> Recommended for New Designs", and have "last time buy" by the
available
-- >> product models (leaded devices became obsolete some while ago).
-- >>
-- >> http://www.analog.com/en/amplifiers-and-comparators/variable-gain-
-- amplifiers/ssm2164/products/product.html
-- >
-- > Yeah, David Dixon mentioned this a couple of weeks ago.  Digikey have
-- > ~6000 of the DIP variants in stock.  I quizzed AD about this and they
-- > don't have any replacement devices other than the SSM2018 (same price
-- > for a single VCA!!  I.e. 4x the equivalent cost).
-- >
-- >> Very disappointing. Seems like no sooner have we got a decent synth
chip
-- >> than someone decides to take it off us. Hopefully CoolAudio will keep
-- >> making the clones for a while longer - indeed, cheap cloning may even
be
-- >> why AD have decided to abandon it.
-- >
-- > Apparently the fab in San Jose has closed down so they aren't making
-- > any more from that line.  Fabs are very expensive to run, so I guess
-- > they're rationalising what facilities they have.
-- >
-- >> Still, it can't be a good sign for analog audio.
-- >
-- > Trouble is its a relatively small market, so you have the low-volume
-- > niche suppliers like THAT Corp keeping on selling low volumes at high
-- > prices.  Larger firms like AD just can't compete - the cost of making
-- > the chips turns them in a loss line, so they get canned whenever they
-- > do a product line rationalising.
-- >
-- > Or you have CoolAudio who are based in a low-cost country (China) with
-- > a backer with specific needs (Behringer).  If all their chips are on
-- > the same or similar process they just run batches of wafers through
-- > their fab and slice-n-dice-n-package them as they need.
-- >
-- > Neil
-- > --
-- > http://www.njohnson.co.uk
-- > _______________________________________________
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-- >
-- 
-- 
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