Some different Ge diodes

[thermionix]

Tayda has been out of stock for a while, so I looked around for alternatives.  I found one place with 1N34As for $0.19 each, good price, but their minimum shipping was over $9, deal breaker.  So I decided to try these Toshiba 1S50s.  I've ordered from that place before with no problems.

Can't find a datasheet, they may be fairly old, I don't know.  Mouser stocks a Schottky with the same part number, different diode though, these Toshibas are definitely germanium.  I got them today, and went about measuring Vf with my Fluke.  Much more consistent than other germs I've tried, in the batch of 20 the range was .277 to .298.  So that's a good thing if you want to match pairs.

I put the lowest matched pair (.278) in my Octavia, and they do sound good.  I like them better than the nearly-matched (.254 & .256) D9Es I had in there.  That circuit really seems to like them exactly the same.  It's a little harsh with a slight mismatch.

(BTW, have you searched for 1N34As on Ebay lately?  Some sellers are actually getting multiple dollars each for them.  Ridiculous.  Check this out.  38 lots sold!  Are those even real germaniums?)

[italianguy63]

I got 200 D9B (Russian) germs.. on eBay recently for $8.20.

They are pretty damn cool.

MC

[thermionix]

4 cents each?  Hell yeah!  Did they ship from overseas?  I didn't find any deals close to that, but I tend to select "US Only" for Ebay search results, because they don't have a "No China or Hong Kong" button.

[italianguy63]

Looks like they went up a little...  They came from USSR.  Still 6.5 cents to the door...


https://www.ebay.com/itm/200-pcs-x-D9B-9-GERMANIUM-Ge-DETECTOR-DIODE-10V-90mA-USSR-DIODE-/183415468247?oid=183361437443

Note:  If you get them, the band is reversed as Dino pointed out.

EDIT:  I have had GREAT success with components purchased from old Blok countries (USSR, Romanina, Bulgaria, etc.)  Great quality and inexpensive.


MC

[antonis]

Search for 1N60..
(I use them for many years with excellent results..)

[thermionix]

They came from USSR.

As slow as Russian post is, that's probably accurate. 

[italianguy63]

They came from USSR.

As slow as Russian post is, that's probably accurate. 

Wasn't too bad... a couple weeks.  I was not in a rush, and after reading the "Russian Diodes for Dummies" thread, I had to try some!

Not disappointed.

MC

[thermionix]

I've had all of one order from Russia, the package went back and forth between two postal facilites in Moscow region for 3 solid weeks.  Took a full month to get here.  All the contents were intact, so no big deal.  No idea what they were doing with the package in that time.  But with Ebay, there's a limit to the time a buyer has to file a claim, so I'm wary of buying things that might take a long time to arrive.  With China/Hong Kong, my concern is more about fakes than delays.

[Sooner Boomer]

BGMicro.com has 1n34 diodes for $59 ea.  I bought a handfull of several different types last time I placed an order.  They're in  Dallas (Garland).

[Sooner Boomer]

FIFTY-NINE CENTS

No, I don't proof read!

[italianguy63]

I've had all of one order from Russia, the package went back and forth between two postal facilites in Moscow region for 3 solid weeks.  Took a full month to get here.  All the contents were intact, so no big deal.  No idea what they were doing with the package in that time.  But with Ebay, there's a limit to the time a buyer has to file a claim, so I'm wary of buying things that might take a long time to arrive.  With China/Hong Kong, my concern is more about fakes than delays.

eBay recently extended the time to file a complaint from 14 days to 30 days.

Well, if anything, I can tell you that the seller I mentioned delivered.   

MC

[PRR]

No, I don't proof read!

FYI-- you *can* edit your posts here for some time after posting. Hit the Modify button above or below your post.

There IS a time limit. (And maybe no-modify for very new members?)

Yes, in the 110 seconds between your typo and your correction, somebody could have fainted. (I felt weak....) If you leave a typo up too long, a later correction may be wiser. In this case I'd fix it in place, maybe add a note about my goof.

[BetterOffShred]

I've had pretty good luck with stuff from Russia and Ukraine.. 

Just ordered 200 of those D9B's..  why not.   

[thermionix]

Well I tried these 1S50s in my Refractor (Klone) today, matched pair.  Very nice!  They replaced D9Es, which also sound good in there.  The Toshibas are not radically different from the D9Es, but less crunchy, or smoother, still good mids.  I also installed sockets while I had the board out, definitely should have done that from the get-go.  In the Octavia, too.

[BetterOffShred]

I had D9E's in my Klone too. a pal gave me some OA7's that I ended up putting in instead..  they had more mids and crunch which is what I was after.

[thermionix]

I had to google OA7s, they look like a good candidate for the Octavia too.  Do you remember the Vf of the ones you put in your Klone, and were they matched?

[BetterOffShred]

Nah I didn't match them and I didn't measure them either.  Just kind of went by ear.   I can measure them though.  I'll report back

[thermionix]

Don't go to too much trouble.  Since I now have sockets, I plan to experiment some.  I've never played a real Klon nor any other Klone, so I don't really know how they're supposed to sound, just have to go by what appeals to me.  But always interested to hear what other people like in theirs.

Today I've been playing with the Klon Refractor running into an 808.  Nice combo.

[BetterOffShred]

It's no trouble Bruh!    I didn't box it yet... I did order 20 more of them OA7's though.  They are pretty slick

[BetterOffShred]

356 and 351 mv.. so I guess they are pretty close.   They sound great IMO