LM308... LM308n... why the price difference

[NaBo]

okay... i know this has come up before and this has been said:

Is there a diff between the lm308n versus the lm308

nope.

but im seriously confused by the fact that small bear is selling the "LM308" for a whopping 4 bucks US while i just picked up an "LM308n" for meagre 60 cents CDN...  a google for "LM308n price" shows prices ranging from 2$ to 10$.  should i be running back to the store to buy up their entire stock before someone beats me to it or they realize their mistake???  did SB make a booboo while typing their prices and has it gone unnoticed for this long?  are the LM308's on SB some mojoriffic vintage original version?  whats going on???

im probably making a run to snag summore pots and jacks today... so if someone could please clue me in before then, that'd be cool.  i'm definitely a rat fan- considering i was willing to drop 4 bucks on an "LM308" from SB- and buying up these ICs at this price, if they're the same thing, seems like the only logical course of action!  

[petemoore]

okay... i know this has come up before and this has been said:

Is there a diff between the lm308n versus the lm308

nope.

>>>There you go "Nope"//
but im seriously confused by the fact that small bear is selling the "LM308" for a whopping 4 bucks US while i just picked up an "LM308n" for meagre 60 cents CDN...  a google for "LM308n price" shows prices ranging from 2$ to 10$.  should i be running back to the store to buy up their entire stock before someone beats me to it or they realize their mistake???  
 >>Yes if you've done your merchandizing homework !!1
 did SB make a booboo while typing their prices and has it gone unnoticed for this long?
 >>uh....'No'...[playin' DA here]
   are the LM308's on SB some mojoriffic vintage original version?  whats going on???
 These apples are good, if you have better apples then these are probably better also.
 
im probably making a run to snag summore pots and jacks today... so if someone could please clue me in before then, that'd be cool.  i'm definitely a rat fan- considering i was willing to drop 4 bucks on an "LM308" from SB- and buying up these ICs at this price, if they're the same thing, seems like the only logical course of action!  

There are numerous sources for sockets, these are you're best bet for the absultrue answers. they will tell you [in  volumes instantly] what it is they do, and how what they do compares to what you've found...perhaps you've discovered a pristine, undisturbed...internet Gold Mine.    

[NaBo]

i was hoping you wouldnt say that, but i suppose it's the truth...  i just hope the little guys wait for me til january so i can order from small bear and get a rat finished and do a comparison...  hey, does anyone happen to have a pic of sb's LM308, top and bottom?  perhaps a visual test is all that is needed

[niftydog]

I think you need to dig a little deeper. Often there is a price difference between manufacturers. For instance, Fairchild make their money selling thousands of the one device to manufacturers, so their small order prices are often higher than a smaller manufacturer who makes their money selling smaller quantitys.

And, don't forget all the middle men! If some bozo got shafted with a bad deal, they're going to try and pass on that loss to the consumer. Often with electronics there might be two or three middle men between you and the manufacturer!

Also, such huge price differences are not unusuall with electronics. I can buy a PIC16F877A for either $10.95 or $34.45 depending on where I buy it from.

[jimbob]

niftydog wrote:
Quote:
Is there a diff between the lm308n versus the lm308

nope.

Good question! I was wondering the same thing. I have a lm308n I salvaged from the Horrible Pro Co BRAT (the pink effect) .

So was there an actual answer?

Thanks
jimbob

[niftydog]

So was there an actual answer?

You don't beleive me?!?! Sheesh, I'm hurt!

the N relates to the package that the device comes in (DIP8). The only current LM308 comes in a TO-5 package from National (LM308H).

This from ON semi (ex. motorola) - note "N suffix" vs "D suffix" etc:

[jimbob]

Very cool! Sorry- didnt read close enough- but i think I got it now. But= a T0-5 .Whats that look like? N= dip 8 like what we use a lot of here , S0-8 is like SMT stuff (little ones) So then the T0-5 would be like?

[jimbob]

ok- I think i see http://www.national.com/packaging/folders/h08c.html//Thats%20it.%20So%20what%20I%20understand%20is%20that%20they%20dont%20make%20what%20we%20need%20anymore.%20Gotta%20get'm%20from%20Steve,%20And%20the%20lm308n%20is%20what%20we%20use.

[NaBo]

well, i picked up 3 more before heading home for the holidays.  why just 4 total? mainly cuz im poor, also cuz 4 rat builds would probably satisfy my yearning for ratly goodness, and cuz hoarding isnt nice!  if you live in-slash-near toronto, they're at Supermetronic... but you probably knew that already cuz, well,  seriously-- where else would you go?

im drilling out a few pcbs with dad's dremel () while im home, and preparing some enclosures, and a rat is in the lineup.  im not gonna include sb's LM308 with my upcoming order (probly just getting those great assorted cap deals, leds with bezels, and a couple 500k reverse log pots)... i figure i'll build it with these ones first, try out some mods, and if im pleased enough with the sound, i'll leave it at that and not worry about it.  if not, oh well, im set back a mere 2.40, and i'll pick up the SB one

thanks for clearing things up a bit for me, guys

[Eric H]

So was there an actual answer?

You don't beleive me?!?! Sheesh, I'm hurt!

the N relates to the package that the device comes in (DIP8). The only current LM308 comes in a TO-5 package from National (LM308H).

This from ON semi (ex. motorola) - note "N suffix" vs "D suffix" etc:

The to5 package is an older design with a metal can, usually gold-plated legs
--it  dissipates heat better and is still specified for some military equipment. It's a much more expensive package, and Smallbear's price reflects this.

-Eric

Forgot to mention that the TO5 has a circular pin pattern, and requires some clever pin-bending to fit a dip-pattern (special sockets are available)