u/CountNo9733

▲ 2 r/ElectronicsRepair+1 crossposts

Struggling to source a genuine LF357 op-amp – all local stock appears to be counterfeit or underperforming

I'm working on a small precision signal-processing project that requires high slew rate and wide bandwidth, which is why I specifically need the LF357 (or a truly equivalent part). The problem is that every unit I've been able to source locally turns out to be Chinese-market stock that doesn't meet the datasheet specs — the performance is noticeably off in my circuit.

I've tested multiple samples and the results are inconsistent, which strongly suggests counterfeit or heavily downgraded parts.

My questions:

  1. Is there a reliable way to source a genuine LF357 ?

  2. Has anyone dealt with this specific IC being counterfeited and found a workaround?

  3. Is the LF357 the kind of chip that appeared in vintage 80s/90s equipment (audio gear, test instruments, industrial boards)? If so, harvesting one from a dead board might be my most realistic option locally. Any idea what devices are worth checking?

Thanks in advance!

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u/CountNo9733 — 12 days ago