Phase 90 Transistor Help!

[mickeybellinello]

Hi to all!

I just finished a Phase 90 clone and it works pretty nice.

With the kit I received a matched quartet of 2n5457 instead of the classic 2n5952.

So, here the question: If I get a matched quartet of 2n5952 do I get some improvement (even small) or nothing change?

Thanks so

[antonis]

Mark said "something" here:
https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=56187.0

R.G. said "a little bit" more here:
https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=79931.0

[strungout]

I have one on my breadboard at the moment and I used matched BF244s from Smallbear.

I love the sound of mine and the sweep is great. Since the FETs are used as control elements (they're used as variable resistors and the resistance changes with the LFO output voltage that's applied to the gate of the FETs EDIT: Do read the posts in the link posted by antonis), the only concern is do they sweep right? If they do sweep deep/shallow and wide/narrow enough (to your liking), then all is good! Go watch some youtube reviews\soundclips, you'll be able to compare yours to the original. I didn't really hear a big difference from mine. But a DIY pedal will always sound different from the original. And anyway, the pedal itself will sound different from one unit to the other (resistor and cap tolerances means the actual resistance and capacitance vary from on piece to another).

Personally, with my limited knowledge (admittedly), I doubt it would make much of a difference. Maybe it would change the trimpot's range at which you get phasing, how much sweep, how deep. The trimpot is there to account for different FETs quartets not having the same exact specs, even within the same batch of 5952s. The cut-off voltage (where the transistor turns 'off') be matched to within millivolts of each other. With a different matched quartet of 5952s, the median cut-off voltage will most likely be different. Same thing for your 5457s and my BF244s.

I wouldn't worry about it. But if you're curious, just get a quartet of 5952s and see for yourself if it makes a difference. At worse you'll have a quartet for another phaser. We all do it around here: we experiment with stuff just to see if it makes a difference and what kind, and if that difference sounds good to us!

If it sounds good, it IS good! That'S really all that matters, no?

[duck_arse]

With the kit I received a matched quartet of 2n5457 instead of the classic 2n5952.

So, here the question: If I get a matched quartet of 2n5952 do I get some improvement (even small) or nothing change?

.... be sure to check your datasheets for the pinouts when swapping.

[mickeybellinello]

R.G. said "a little bit" more here:
https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=56187.0

Thanks, very interesting. Just one thing, both link land to the same page.

Personally, with my limited knowledge (admittedly), I doubt it would make much of a difference. Maybe it would change the trimpot's range at which you get phasing, how much sweep, how deep. The trimpot is there to account for different FETs quartets not having the same exact specs, even within the same batch of 5952s. The cut-off voltage (where the transistor turns 'off') be matched to within millivolts of each other. With a different matched quartet of 5952s, the median cut-off voltage will most likely be different. Same thing for your 5457s and my BF244s.

I wouldn't worry about it. But if you're curious, just get a quartet of 5952s and see for yourself if it makes a difference. At worse you'll have a quartet for another phaser. We all do it around here: we experiment with stuff just to see if it makes a difference and what kind, and if that difference sounds good to us!

If it sounds good, it IS good! That'S really all that matters, no?

Thank You So!

.... be sure to check your datasheets for the pinouts when swapping.

Yes of course

Another question, I see that the bag that contained my transistors reports Ld:2,5  Vp:1,3
In case is better to have a low or a high vp?

[antonis]

both link land to the same page.

Ooopsss...
(edited..)

[mickeybellinello]

both link land to the same page.

Ooopsss...
(edited..)

Don't worry! I'll take a look immediately and thanks so!