Over decades working in the business I have seen a number of dedicated meter ICs go end of life. I used a couple different ones at Peavey that were already in the system and in high volume use, but I would never bring in a dedicated chip, and designed numerous meters using more conventional building blocks during my 15 years there.PRR said:> pimped by the op amp company who made an op amp that worked that way... clever in a gee whiz way...
I very seriously considered it to monitor street-power into my house. Drive from a Current Transformer was very ample and 2 phases all fit on a quad opamp.
Then I realized the Chinese would sell me the whole package far cheaper than I could buy CTs and meters. One of two $11 meter-modules had a bum back-light so I got two more as spares; still cheaper.
You can buy "LED VU Meter" modules far cheaper than you can build them. Many are aimed at across-speaker use and have terrible input sections (but one TL072 might overwhelm their flaws). Of course long-term supply rules-out auction sites unless you can capitalize the initial try-them-all then place a Lifetime Buy.
I didn't get into micros until after my Peavey gig...
JR