wish: BBD Delay

jaidee · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:13 am Post subject:

My utsource chips are identical to those already shown in the photographs above, so I won't bother digging out the camera.

I've also received the stock email from utsource. I'm not impressed by the notion of a refund being made only after I've incurred the further expense of returning the chips which utsource now appear to acknowledge are fake. I'd be interested to hear whether any other recipients of the fake chips have any views on this.

Cheers

James

TekniK · Joined: Aug 10, 2008 Posts: 1059

jhaible · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject:

dingebre · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:13 pm Post subject:

Still waiting on AERI to respond to my request for a quote.

Small Bear lists them, but when you try to add them to your cart, it says there are none in stock.

I will buy some from AERI if they return my request and will test them and post the results.

David

dingebre · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 4:57 pm Post subject:

AERI responded.... they don't have stock and don't do small quantities. Here is what they wrote.

"I am sorry we do not have stock on your items. We are an independent distributor and normally outsource parts for our larger manufacturers who use higher quantities, but if you are normally looking for small quantities I will recommend a few of the mainline distributors for you. Try www.digikey.com, www.newark.com, and www.alliedelec.com. These companies all have huge on the shelf inventories and sell in small quantities. You can research other distributors on the EEM website at www.eem.com. It cost too much for us to bring parts in from our suppliers, ship them to you and make the price reasonable. If you ever have a hard time locating a part of a larger quantity please contact us.

Best regards,"

dingebre · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:58 pm Post subject:

I wrote Small Bear and sked if they would be getting more MN3005's. Here is what Steve Daniels wrote back:

"Unfortunately, I don't know. A lot of 200 that I brought in turned out to be DOA. I am negotiating to get replacements, but I am not certain whether there are any good ones of this chip left on the broker market. I will post if I am successful.

Regards

Steve Daniels"

oldschool57 · Joined: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Bellerose, NY

I got my "MN3005s" today and...

Luka · Joined: Jun 29, 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: Melb.

i dont think utsource is the devil here, have some faith. they offer very cheap components which are from what i have experiences mostly legit

futurlec re-imbursed me for shipping components back to them that they screwed up in my order

dingebre · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 10:10 pm Post subject: saga continues

Wow, this doesn't seem to end Smile

UTSource wrote me tonight. I am going to place an order and see. Here is what UT source wrote me in part:

BEGIN QUOTE -------------------------------------

Dear David, how are you today, we got new source for the real true parts for MN3005, we have 80pcs in stock now and we are please to let you know this.

By the way, we noticed that you recommended our company on http://www.electro-music.com/forum/topic-32538-125.html , would you pls help us clarify this problem and make a topic then let the customers to know that ? We got new source for the real true parts for MN3005, we have 80pcs in stock and we can offer $20.00 each, we hope can help all of you and solve the problem.

END QUOTE ----------------------------------------

So, all I can say is when I get my order. I'll test them and report back. To all who ordered before, I suggest you contact UTSource if they haven't contacted you already.

I can only say that they seem to be really trying to make good on this part. I have used them in the past, and will use them again. It seems they also got screwed on this MN3005 deal.

However, the proof is in the IC. Let's hope this works.

David

dingebre · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject:

Just for information I placed an order for a couple more MN3005's from UTSource. Thank you UTsource for following up on this part.

David

jhaible · Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:33 am Post subject:

This looks promising!

Got the same mail, will go for replacement chips instead of a refund, too.
Looks good for the PCB project also. Smile

JH.

jaidee · Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:05 am Post subject:

I've had a similar email from utsource offering replacement chips.

It is noteworthy that utsource have responded extremely promptly to every email I've sent to them.

I believe that utsource are a genuine, honest company who have been badly let down by a previous rogue supplier and who are now taking appropriate steps to resolve the problem for their customers.

When an audio-electronics specialist like SmallBear can be caught out with numerous chips DOA from a supposedly reliable source, it does not bode well for the future supply of MN3005.

Nevertheless, I've opted for replacement chips from utsource. Fingers crossed that we can all get some decent working chips!!

TekniK · Joined: Aug 10, 2008 Posts: 1059

Great (source) !

oscilloclast · Joined: Sep 29, 2005 Posts: 49 Location: VA

Yes this does look promising (I asked them to send me replacements) and utsource certainly seems to be trying to do the right thing. Lets all keep our fingers crossed! One thing this has taught me is that if I am buying rare chips I'll try to get a picture of them first so that I can compare them (visually) against real ones and the spec sheets.

David

strategy · Joined: Jan 03, 2009 Posts: 87 Location: portland, oregon

I got this email as well and also requested replacement chips, looking forward to giving those a try.

The issue of chip availability raises a question for Juergen: is it worthwhile to release the BBD delay as a PCB which offers the option to use different chips? I am thinking of the Tau Pipe Phaser design which permits use of different IC combinations depending on availability and cost of parts. Another project which does this in a clever way is the Mu-Tron III+ filter clone project of RG Keen which offers either 3 or 4 optional configurations!

Obviously this necessitates a more sophisticated design and I am not as familiar with BBD IC's in terms of comparative pinouts, delay times etc. But perhaps worth considering...

BTW, Perhaps "Zeitgeist" as a name for the machine..."Time Ghost" translated literally to English...seems appropriate for a delay machine. Unless there are too many delays with "time" in the title already Very Happy

- Strategy

oldschool57 · Joined: Nov 15, 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Bellerose, NY

...And the beat goes on. At least it's going somewhere now; or so it seems.
Received this email this morning:

Dear Dave, ok, we will ship parts to your below address today.
By the way, we noticed that you make comment on http://www.electro-music.com/forum/topic-32538-125.html , would you pls help us clarify this problem and make a topic then let the customers to know that ? We got new source for the real true parts for MN3005, we have 80pcs in stock and we can offer $20.00each, we hope can help all of you and solve the problem.
By the way, our return parts address is :
Please return back parts to us by post office normal mail.

I now feel they are trying to make good on this situation. I am going to be more positive; with reservation of course; until the chips are received/tested/working.
BTW; the address for returning the fakes is in China. Hmmm...
Here's more on this situation you might find amusing (or not).
http://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8116&start=100
Shocked

diablojoy · Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 10:41 pm Post subject:

have only recently caught up with this topic
seems i got caught up too
though i have had my chips since september
from utsource and according to them from their previous supplier
only now did i check them out
see attached
3 are obviously fake
the top one is possibly ok
though without further testing it in a proper cct i cannot be certain for sure
i have been in contact with utsource i remain hopefull of a good outcome
as they appear to be genuinely trying to sort this

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dingebre · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject:

I just received my new order from UTSource. On first inspection, they look good. Dimple, surface, etc. just like the photo Davis (UTSource) posted.

I will give them a go tonight in my TimeMachine and will report the results and a photo. I think it looks promising.

David

dingebre · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:30 pm Post subject:

GOOD NEWS!

I got my order from UTSource today. I plugged them all into my TimeMachine and they work. Here is a photo of the ones I got. On the bottom are the six i got today. On the top are four I got from Small Bear a while ago.

It is curious that the ones from UTSource have a small border around the edge of the chip and the ones from Small Bear don't. But in the end, all that matters is they are the real thing. And, the one dimple on one of the Small Bear chips is on the other edge. But, they all work. At least they sound the same as the one in the TimeMachine...

So, looks like they did find a good source. Kudo's to UTSource! Thank you Davis for standing behind your service and product.

David

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diablojoy · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject:

that is good news
UTSOURCE have agreed to replace the chips they sent me as well
I am definitely feeling more positive now

jaidee · Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:01 pm Post subject:

I've just received my replacement MN3005s from UTSOURCE.

Tested in my Blacet Time Machine.

They are genuine and work perfectly.

Needless to say, I'm extremely pleased!

Ultimately a very positive experience with the supplier, UTSOURCE.

As I said previously, they've replied promptly to every email I've sent to them; they acknowledged and accepted the problem when it arose without quibbling, and have taken the trouble to find and supply replacement parts.

strategy · Joined: Jan 03, 2009 Posts: 87 Location: portland, oregon

likewise, got my replacement chips!

diablojoy · Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject:

also here as well
my thanks to davis at utsource

oscilloclast · Joined: Sep 29, 2005 Posts: 49 Location: VA

I just got my replacement MN3005 chips (4) from Utsource and they all work!

tomcat · Joined: Oct 14, 2005 Posts: 141 Location: earth

To motivate Jürgen: Im in for 2 boards