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30th July 2011, 07:52

PM

Okv
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Aalesund, Norway

#1
Transistors recommended for new designs

So, which BJT, FET, MOSFET to choose for new designs in 2011?
Discretes seems to be more difficult to source and prices are astronomic in some special
cases.
Future availability must be considered.
It is interesting to find alternatives to those classis audio transistors, often something else
can be used, and still give similar performance.
Exotic transistors are fun, but it is better to design around devices that are widely used and
as such has lower cost and is more likely to be around in the future.
As for performance, it is often a matter of circuit design.
Here is a list of some transistors for audio use:
Small signal:
BJT BC550(C), BC560(C) (Good, but limited VCE)
BJT Toshiba 2SA970, 2SC2240 (future availability?)
BJT ROHM 2SB737, 2SD786 (Not found in current ROHM catalog)
FET 2SK170, 2SJ74 (possible to find, future availability?)
FET 2SK146, 2SJ72 (Only found in my spare parts bin..)
Driver, line output:
BJT Toshiba 2SA1358, 2SC3421 (future availability?)
BJT Toshiba 2SA1837, 2SC4793 (future availability?)
BJT BD139, BD140 (mediocre performance, but ok in many applications)
MOSFET Hitachi 2SK213(->2SK216), 2SJ76(->2SJ79) (Now made by Renesas, difficult to
source, horrible prices)
MOSFET IRF510 (Suggested replacement for 2SK213+++, but it is not the same..)
Power:
BJT Toshiba 2SA1943, 2SC5200 (Easy to find, ok prices, future availability?)
Recommendations and other relevant input on the selection of especially small-signal and
driver BJT & FET is highly appreciated.

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Transistors recommended for new designs - diyAudio

30th July 2011, 09:11

PM

jaycee
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2004

#2
Fairchild devices - KSA992/KSC1845 for small signal, KSA1381/KSC3503 for VAS,
KSA1220/KSC2690 as small drivers, FJP1943/FJP5022 as TO-220 drivers.
They also have their own TO-264 package 2SA1943/2SC5200 clones called FJL4215/FJL4315,
and TO3P packaged versions FJA4213/FJA4313
Onsemi have good output and drivers... and now that they bought Sanyo I belive they make
2SA1209/2SC2911 which are good VAS devices

30th July 2011, 09:48

PM

weinstro

#3
Quote:

diyAudio Member

Join Date: May 2003

Location: N. C al

Originally Posted by Okv

So, which BJT, FET, MOSFET to choose for new designs in 2011?
I'm interested in a response, too. I've finally committed to building a Borbely DC-102, and
have discovered that pretty much all of the interesting transistors are obsolete and hard to
find.
I just ordered the hard to find parts through eBay, a DIY member here, and other vendors.
However, the JFETs in particular are so limited in availability that there is no real guarantee of
receiving original devices sufficiently close in characteristics. These is not a cheap bet,
either. I doubt these parts were ever cheap, but the totals start to get my attention.
My sense is that designs with complementary JFET input sections are no longer feasible, and
this type of project I'm doing will be effectively impossible shortly. So, it seems that new
designs will probably need to use complementary BJT's or opamps. I've noticed that some of
the newer posts here discuss non-complementary BJT-based input sections.
Regards,
Rob

30th July 2011, 10:22

PM

ingenieus
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Pretoria

#4
Here is the list of devices from Bob Cordell's site for which they have developed accurate
SPICE models. It represents quite a good selection for me and I tend to stick to these when
cooking up something new.
Quote:

BJT
2N3904 2N3906 small-signal general purpose
2N4401 2N4403 small-signal general purpose
2N5089 2N5087C small-signal general purpose
2N5210 small-signal general purpose
2N5551 2N5401 small-signal general purpose
BC550 BC560 small-signal general purpose
2SC3503 2SA1381 TO126 VAS, driver
KSC3503 KSA1381 TO126 VAS, driver
2SC3601 2SA1407 TO126 VAS, driver
BD139 BD140 TO126 VAS, driver
MJE243 MJE253 TO126 VAS, driver
MJE340 MJE350 TO126 VAS, driver
MJE15032 MJE15033 TO220 driver
MJL21194 MJL21193 TO264 power transistor
MJL3281 MJL1302 TO264 power transistor
MJL4281 MJL4302 TO264 power transistor
NJL3281 NJL1302 TO264 ThermalTrak power transistor

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Transistors recommended for new designs - diyAudio

JFET
LS844 N-channel dual-matched JFET input pair
LSK389 N-channel dual-matched JFET input pair
Vertical Power MOSFET
2SK1530 2SJ201 vertical MOSFET power transistor
IRFP240 IRFP9240 vertical MOSFET power transistor
Lateral Power MOSFET
2SK134 2SJ49 lateral MOSFET power transistor
2SK1056 2SJ162 lateral MOSFET power transistor
CordellAudio.com - SPICE Models

Last edited by ingenieus; 30th July 2011 at 10:29 PM.

30th July 2011, 10:51

PM

unclejed613
diyAudio Member

#5
just took a look on Toshiba's website. although they show A1934 and C5200 as current
production, they have an improved pair. A2121 and C5949
Attached Files
2SA2121_en_datasheet_110201.pdf (158.8 KB, 143 views)
2SC 5949_en_datasheet_061116.pdf (128.4 KB, 136 views)

Join Date: Dec 2006

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31st July 2011, 01:30

AM

Okv
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Aalesund, Norway

#6
Nice, prices are good too, this can be a good option for SS power amplifier.
Seems the 2SA1943/2SC5200 is widely used in PA-amps, and probably also for a lot of hifiamps - which means supply should still be good for a while.
The problem is that class-D will make these obsolete for all but some special audiophile classA stages.
Then other examples mentioned are good input and noted, now I will search Toshiba to find
some driver/medium-power BJTs.

31st July 2011, 02:03

AM

andrewlebon
diyAudio Member

#7
semelab

MG6333W SEMELAB 260V 30A 50 400W 35MHz TO264 NPN

MG9413W SEMELAB 260V 30A 50 400W 35MHz TO264 PNP
HI GREETINGS anyone used these transistors
warm regards
andrew lebon

Join Date: Feb 2008

31st July 2011, 02:29

AM

ostripper
diyAudio Member

#8
http://www.profusionplc.com/images/d...ts/mg6333w.pdf
Those are big.

Could not run them efficiently in a EF2 , similar to the 21193/4 Hfe-Ic plot.

Hard to get , only 1 hit on google. They would work in any well designed triple EF. Better to
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Transistors recommended for new designs - diyAudio

"double up" on NJW0281/0302 ($1.90USD)

(2sa1294/2sc3263)

Join Date: May 2008

Location: Smoky Mountains ,
Tennessee

or the sanken130-150w lineup

OS
__________________
Mongrel website , always current and updated :
http://www.fidelityforce.com/ostripper

31st July 2011, 03:07

AM

#9
400W dissipation in a TO-264? I smell manure...

jaycee
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2004

31st July 2011, 04:50

AM

#10
Here's one I do believe .... http://www.st.com/internet/com/TECHN...CD00171942.pdf

ostripper
diyAudio Member

225W , but with an SOA that beats the TO-3 MJ21193/4. These I can source easily.
#1 Killer BJT output ! (6A /60V/100mS SOA)
OS
__________________
Mongrel website , always current and updated :
http://www.fidelityforce.com/ostripper

Join Date: May 2008

Location: Smoky Mountains ,
Tennessee

Last edited by ostripper; 31st July 2011 at 04:52 AM.

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