STA326 and/or STA329

[KMill]

A company in China has designed a new amplifier for one of my biggest clients.

However, when they sent us samples it is powered by the STA326 chip.

As part of my due diligence I realise this chip is marked "obsolete'.

When I asked the manufacturer about this they said it's actually an STA329 chip, but for some reason is still engraved with STA326.

I find that highly doubtful!

Anyway, I cannot find any information about the SAT329 except a news article from several years ago.

Is there really such a chip as STA329?,

Is it in production?

Is it suitable for new designs?

Would early "STA329" chips really be marked as "STA326"?

[MikeDB]

Datasheet says STA329 is conpatible with STA326 so probably just a matter of sourcing whichever chip you can get cheapest.

STA329 seems to be available here.

[KMill]

Thanks @MikeDB​ 

I could not find a datasheet for the STA329, nor a supplier.

Can you tell me where "here" is, and provide a link to the datasheet / and or / supplier?

Also, do you have any idea about the claim that the chips were in fact STA329, but just with the wrong engraving?

[MikeDB]

Ooops sorry - I was looking at the ST339. ST329 seems to not be available, and may not ever have been released

I really doubt any story about mismarking though.

[KMill]

Re the marking - Yes I thought so.

I think my supplier has some old stock of 326's which they are working through.

I've done thorough testing and they are performing as per the STA326 datasheet.

However the amp is supposed to have long term supply, and I'm getting a little worried about that.

Thanks for your help!

[MikeDB]

Well someone on AliExpress claims to have 100,000 of them at about £1 each. These places tend to double count stock with all their mate's companies, but obviously there are still parts around. What is your lifetime production ?

[KMill]

It's probably 20,000 to 40,000 units.