Anyone build an amp with NTE317 transistors?

[Onelasttime]

I recently fell into a great deal. I got 8 of them at $24 each NOS still in the plastic retail bags like you would get at electronics store back in the 1980's. Imagine you walked into your local TV repair shop/radio repair shop!

You can not get MRF455's for less than $79 each. I figured I can figure it out or ask for help on this site when I go to actual use them should I run into anything I can not figure out.

I am guessing they where made by Motorola, Toshiba, TRW, Phillips, ST or some other non-China traditional fully accountable semiconductor manufacture in the past so cheaper than HG's and likely more durable.

I understand it is always better to find the origanal name brand part but given our choices today maybe people should reconsider these NOS options and stop focusing on just Toshiba's, Macoms, and HG's!

 

[nomadradio]

Haven't seen anyone counterfeit a NTE part yet.

At least it's probably old enough to be an original-production american-brand part.

Not sure it matters so much which original part so long as it works in an amplifier.

73

 

[Onelasttime]

I agree parts are parts if they work as intended or the crcuit can be uned to make non-origanal parts work!

Up until recently I could get a great deal on MACOM MRF454's at a good price point so I used them to replace the insanely priced Toshiba 2SC2879's in my gear. I have HG2879's but have not built with them and I am not eager to build them so long as I can get USA made, Japan made or European made NOS transistors. I am grateful that we have had the affordable HG transistors available to keep vintage gear going but have not used them yet even though I own some. Those are my last ditch apocalpse transistors.

I understand the quantum leap in quality control between NOS transistors made in Japan, Europe and USA compared to anything made in China. It is not that HG in CHina can not make a decent transistor it is that you can not trust them to do the QC to weed out the faulty units. That is why I bought 4 matched quads and a few singles and pairs because you just do not know what your getting under that ceramic lid!

I value solid design, construction, validation, and durability over a few more watts.

 

[nomadradio]

I value solid design, construction, validation, and durability over a few more watts.

Darn shame the people who buy linears don't.

73