[sdiy] re: SSM2164 last time buys

[Oscar Salas]

Hello,

Regarding the SSM2164 I would like report my experience with the coolaudio v2164.

Time ago 3 quad VCAs of my system died. (They are Mike Irwin linearized  so 6 chips) I didn’t understand why. I read somewhere that the 2164 dies when the negative rail faults and forget it. Just replace them. I thought that maybe I shorted accidentally the negative rail with that result.
More recently another quad VCA, this time with new PCB layout, also did die. Just replaced the chips and now is working.

Well, I wanted to know why. I bought a pair of original ssm2164 and I did several tests. For example, I placed in a breadboard, side by side, a V2164 and a SSM2164 without connect the negative rail for more than five minutes. Neither of both did die. 
The only thing that I can report is that the V2164 went so much hot than the original SSM2164. I don't have a thermometer and temperatures were sensed with the finger :). The diference was very clear. The SSM2164 was hot but you could stay touching the chip. The V2164 you could not stay touching it nor one second, was really burning.

I didn’t found why the V2164 of my system died, nor if they were original SSM2164 they had died. 
What I found was a difference within them.

Other similar experiences?

Hoping that my English is understandable :) Best regards,
Oscar.