Clean, modern and inexpensive VCA?

GroupDIY Audio Forum

Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
maybe the Behringer 2164 clone ... it's used in the Mutable instruments Ripples, eurorack filter, schematic in Github.
 
maybe the Behringer 2164 clone ... it's used in the Mutable instruments Ripples, eurorack filter, schematic in Github.
The Cool Audio 2164 is a cheap alternative intended for synths, where S/N ratio is not as important as in pro audio.
The THAT2162 is much better, as close as possible to two THAT2150/2180 in a single package, except it doesn't have the symmetry adjustment. Cool Audio also have a drop-in replacement for the THAT2181, called V2181. Except for price, I don't see any reason to prefer the Cool Audio 2181 over the THAT.
 
Last edited:
I reckon THAT are the 'Go To' on this stuff for audio applications atm ?
"Back in the Day" it would have been SSM. Think I have some SSM 2018 (IIRC) in the attic !
 
Look at the Sound Semiconductor SSI2164, also the SSI2161 and SSI2162 are derived from the same die by paralleling the VCAs of the 2164 die. The SSI2164 is an improved version of the SSM2164 and the core transistors have greater base - emitter area for improved noise performance.
 
If anyone is interested, I have a 2181 demo board that I would give to a good home. First come first served!

*GONE*
 

Attachments

  • 09B92CA1-A226-42E1-9367-07276FF52A4C.jpeg
    09B92CA1-A226-42E1-9367-07276FF52A4C.jpeg
    1.9 MB · Views: 1
Last edited:
Look at the Sound Semiconductor SSI2164, also the SSI2161 and SSI2162 are derived from the same die by paralleling the VCAs of the 2164 die. The SSI2164 is an improved version of the SSM2164 and the core transistors have greater base - emitter area for improved noise performance.
Just for the sake of clarity, the SSI2164/2162/2161 (and their predecessor, the SSM2164) are completely unrelated to the THAT 2162, which Abbey was referring to above.

The THAT 2162 is basically a pair of THAT 2180 (pre-trimmed) VCAs in an SMT package.
 
I'll +1 for the THAT stuff for what its worth. When i was building a bus comp, i tried some dbx cans and the THAT chips against one another and actually preferred the THAT chips... to each their own. Granted i wasn't using the gold standard of DBX cans, but still...
 
@ Lee
When you say the 2162 is basically two 2180s in a package, are you saying they use the same dielectric isolation process as the 2180? I thought they were two 2150 style VCAs like Abbey said. Like to know more about that if the 2162s are dielectric isolation.

And BTW, both THAT and Coolaudio 2162 offerings have SYM pins and recommend using them.
 
@ Lee
When you say the 2162 is basically two 2180s in a package, are you saying they use the same dielectric isolation process as the 2180? I thought they were two 2150 style VCAs like Abbey said. Like to know more about that if the 2162s are dielectric isolation.

And BTW, both THAT and Coolaudio 2162 offerings have SYM pins and recommend using them.
The 2150 and 2180 are almost the same iirc, the 2180 has some slight improvements but I think that's down to manufacturing process rather than significant changes to the internal circuitry.

I'd expect the 2162 to be closer to the 2180, on the assumption that it uses the improved mfg processes.
 
It's a bit unfortunate with the name clash of the THAT2162 and the SSI2162 :( But yes, as @sdimond wrote, the SSI2162 is two channels of SSI2164 in parallel, and the SSI2161 is all four channels in parallel. Saves board area for those who work on small boards. In all three parts you have the mode pin so you can select between class A (low distortion, high noise) and class AB (low noise, high distortion), or slide between the two.

Neil
 
Hi John,
I reckon I will have to bench test them if no one here has already done so.
I don't have access to high end test equipment, so I am hoping.
Lee_M sounded like he had more knowledge of the THAT 2162 - he said
The THAT 2162 is basically a pair of THAT 2180 (pre-trimmed) VCAs in an SMT package.

and I was hoping he or others had more knowledge of what the THAT 2162 is,

AND I am curious about what the CoolAudio offering called 2162 is as well.
 
Back
Top