How to test NE5532. Fake or Real?

I show you how, almost anyone, with just a multi meter, can test NE5532s and tell if they are probably real or fakes.
Sorry, it looks like I cannot spell! Opening video.

[@MichaelBeeny]

The NE5534 (single) OP can also be tested this way, again pins 2 and 3.

[@cesarbordallo8997]

Thanks Michael! Learned something new! I would really like to see the slew rate method. Really like your channel! Cheers,

[@FreeCircuitLab]

Thanks a lot. You saved my DIY oscilloscope project. I got 50% fake

[@MichaelBeeny]

I'm pleased to be of help to you, thanks for watching.

[@electron7373]

Excellent fake test! And the more people that get money back the more it sends a message to counterfeiters! Thanks Michael !

[@netrapalsinghprjapati1935]

You are a great person, we get to learn a lot by watching your videos. Thank you

[@MichaelBeeny]

Thank you for the kind words, I'm pleased you found my video helpful.

[@daveg8htfadlibaudio250]

I like this video Michael, keep up the good work cheers Dave.

[@francescomaldera7385]

Thanks Michele for the precious information you gave, I had the same problems with fake TDA7293s and luckily I found a gentleman on the net who identified a method to discover the fake chips from the original ones.

[@andymouse]

Your a rockstar ! I asked about this and you pointed me to your vid (I'm subbed) and I just took a board with a single 5532 and it tested fake, no junctions and then took another preamp that had two 5532's on it (a much used and loved one) and sure enough the both had the 0.80v junctions ! so real and I always said this one sounded great and used it a lot 1 I now plan to do further tests and try to see if the difference can be measured in other ways, regardless of that I don't like giving money to counterfeiters anyway....cheers.

[@MichaelBeeny]

Welcome Mr Mouse. It's not always the same fake 5532 used but the real 5532 is the only one with the 2 diodes on the input circuity (that I know of) so quite a conclusive test. Some fakes have poor HF square wave and higher noise figures.

[@alfikaruniawan8772]

Thanks for your information, that you've share to us, sir. Regards from me, from Indonesia. 🙏🙏🙏

[@brankozivkovic6555]

Hearing that this channel is gona be extinguished I decided to look all of it at once. Coming to this record I was afraid that my two ordered NE5532(4) based devices (buffer and preamp) are containing fake OP AMPs. Using this tutorial I determined that although buffer and preamp cost next to nothing, they contain real NE5532(4). Thank you Beeny. Any way I planned to substitute NE with OPA2111 (OPA111)

[@ats89117]

Thanks for the really useful tip. I feel much better knowing that my 5532s are probably genuine!

[@livelooper]

Thanks Michael. very helpful.

[@remarpc]

I used to look at the seam at the sides for the two copper points to determine original TI/JRC die but my eyes aren't getting younger. Thank you for the excellent tip

[@MichaelBeeny]

I know what you mean about the eyes, I find resistors a problem. I'm sure my carpet contains more resistors than my storage boxes.

[@remarpc]

@@MichaelBeeny I feel your pain, good sir. Those tiny quarter watt blue metal film resistors have become undecipherable to the naked eye. With resistors jumping off to the carpet, you can get a reasonably strong Neodymium magnet, stick it to flattened tin can sheet and drag it across the carpet. Saved me a bunch of times from getting down on my half a century elbows and knees hopelessly looking for those buggers

[@MichaelBeeny]

@@remarpc I bow down to experience in this matter, thank you Marvin.

[@bringmeheadofbill1226]

Are two decent and clean looking copper points sign of the real NE5532?

[@MichaelBeeny]

@@bringmeheadofbill1226 As there are a number of companies that make these, the test I have shown is the only clear sign I know of. No diodes = fake.

[@ford1546]

Hello. Have you tried the lm4562na? I connected a system where I could switch between preamplifier or without preamplifier to hear differences with and without preamplifier in the chain. I used earphones with good sound quality since with earphones it is easier to hear details. I tested with music and pink noiseig and frequencies and concluded that the lm4562na changed the sound incredibly little. difficult to hear differences. In the preamplifier card I have, the lm4562na is the absolute winner if you want the least possible sound changes to the original input signal

[@joefarr3304]

Thanks for this. I've been having weird issues with a project and just been though my stock of 90 ICs... around 50% were probably fake. Some I've had for years and others I've picked up when I've seen them going cheap, so I've no idea which ICs from from where. Tried the magnetic test but they are all magnetic. I'm going to order a couple from a proper supplier and see how they test.

[@mikesgarage394]

Looks like the same chip in all the amazon ads, 9CA code. and the fake, counterfeit TI chips i got - only have the bottom 1/2 of the TI logo. Great video.

[@peteytwofinger]

The first clue , for me , was taking a good look at the texas instruments logo (which is the outline of the state of TEXAS with a T and an I inside of that) , found on the chip. Mind you the logo is pretty small , so i like to use proper lighting and magnification, if you have an authentic chip and you side by side them with a phoney ic , its clear to see . the couterfeits image of the state of texas does NOT resemble texas , it looks more like long island . Your test method is well informed and i admire your intellect / experience to figure this test out as its wonderfully smart and fool proof test . for me (i am kind of a numpty)i had purchased a 3 band eq board with a pair of chinese ne5532 and i suspected they were not originals. i used my multi meter and tested for current draw what i then found was the chips i suspected to be fakies were pulling significantly less current than what they are rated to consume . Of course i forget the numbers as this was two years ago. these fake ne5532's where pulling about half what a lesser spec'ed op amp is supposed to pull. when i removed them , i installed some proper ne5532 i purchased from tayda and those ic chips pulled the proper amount of current. Now this is the internet , i am a bit older at 50 plus so of course i am wrong , i dont know what i am on about i am a goof i use plumbers flux. But i am convinced my tayda ne5532 are legit TI chips. Despite the rash complaints of users claiming everything purchased from Tayda is phoney.The logo is legit and they pull the correct amount of current. I recently saw they are selling a 10 dollar eq with a pair of fake ne5532 and this board also has a bbe sonic maximizer chip onboard . THATS the board i want to try. I never considered asking for my money back when i recieve false chips . thats something i would need to consider. the project i am working on right now , i ordered a board which has a pair of ne5532 , i plan to use it as a headphone amp so i may need to swap out the resistors that set the gain . i have some Tayda bought burr brown op2134 ic chips to try out and my plan is to remove the stock dual volume pot and cut in a pair of independant pots to control the volume as i am slightly deafish in my right ear . ultimately i really like listening to music with a smile eq curve where the bass and trebles are boosted a good amnt . ideally i would build one unit in one chassis . single 24vdc supply and it would have the preamp/headphone amp board AND the eq board that features the bbe chip (NE5532 OP AMP Preamp Tone Audio Board NJM2150 BBE Processing Module) but i am looking at the dimensions and it would be a tight fit in a 1590bb so ... i will more than likely add a small bbe chip board to my eq and couple it with the headphone amp build . all this driving a pair of superluxe 681evo headphones . shortly before realize this , i ordered two ten pack batches of ne5532 from ebay to stock up... so as far as imposter op amp ics i am set! ( i told you i wasnt so sharp... anyway thank you for your excellent video pal , i ejoyed that .

[@MichaelBeeny]

Do you know Petey, I never thought of testing for current. Next time I will also measure it. Regarding your hearing miss balance, rather than put 2 pots in circuit I thing I would probably change the feedback (gain) on one channel. Do this with a mono input, then you know it will always be correct for your hearing.

[@EJEuth]

Good and simple testing way, indeed. How about the slew rate, as you said, are the fake ones also bad, how much worse? Did you see if they have that crossover distortion, typical of LM358s (same pinout)? Thank you!

[@MichaelBeeny]

Sadly it's just the 5532/4 with these diodes. Others with the same pin out are different inside, so cannot be tested like this. Regarding crossover, I have never seen any in such chips as they tend to be class A

[@HillsWorkbench]

Thanks, great info!

[@BryanDenham]

Hello @ Michael Beeny , thank you for the video i found out i do in fact have fake NE5532 but ive got a question about it if you happen to know. i bought my NE5532 to build a Zen Drive its a guitar overdrive pedal. would you happen to know if these fake chips would make any difference in my Zen Drive circuit? i made my circuit with the fake chips and im happy with how it sounds but wonder could it be better if i put in a real NE5532. thanks for any help or advise .

[@MichaelBeeny]

In truth the answer is no! Most fakes are lesser spec chips re branded. Very naughty and it's a con. However in many applications, probably un noticeable.

[@peterrhodes5663]

Bought a MAX038 from AliExpress. Didn't work. Just drew a high current. Told the supplier who assured me that they test each chip before dispatch. Told him that I'm really happy about that, and could he send me a schematic of his test circuit. Money refunded. Just tested my 5532's. Failed.

[@MichaelBeeny]

The 5532 is probably one of the most fake of all chips. Almost every board I have tested used fake chips. Well done getting your money refunded.

[@MustangBoss1973]

Hi Michael, thanks for the video. Could you please follow up with the more advanced method with scope testing? I will be getting my meter out and am expecting 99% of fakes.

[@zulkarnainkarim]

Yeah.. I want to see it too..

[@johnbravo7542]

yep,I got a fake one too,thank you for showing us how to test them,I was suspicious when the led on the circuit board didn't light up with only 12v DC connected to it. But I think I'll give solid state circuitry a miss,and stick to building valve gear,as I've built a fair few amplifiers and Preamplifiers,and like the sound of them very much,and just love point to point wiring.

[@garhpd]

They sell fake tubes as well

[@MichaelBeeny]

Ohh no, I've just noticed a spelling error in my main title. I've watched it twice and still not noticed it. Hard to change at this stage, just gotta live with it. RAKE OR REAL?

[@MichaelBeeny]

@Conor Hanley Just a senior moment Conor.

[@hectorpascal]

@@MichaelBeeny And it would NOT be polite to call you out on it!🤨

[@MichaelBeeny]

@@hectorpascal It's an age thing, cannot see the wood from the trees.

[@madkaz09]

Thank you for the video. I've bought LM358 from Ali and they were fake. They act like normal op amp, but in one circuit they kept burning up(with cracking). I assume they just were very simplified schematic like with just 6 transistors inside. After i realized they are fake i threw them all. I will go and test my NE5532's bought from local supplier)) Sorry for my english.

[@MichaelBeeny]

It's getting so bad now, almost all the well know chips are fakes. I just received a class D amplifier this morning with fake 5532s preamps.

[@braveheart5280]

Hello Mike, The spec sheet states the inputs cannot exceed -vcc or +vcc , would'nt this burn out the diodes across the inputs? I am confused.

[@MichaelBeeny]

I will need to study the circuit again to really comment but it is one way to tell if it's a genuine chip or not. I'm working on other ways at present.

[@braveheart5280]

@@MichaelBeeny Something is strange.

[@SamiJumppanen]

@@braveheart5280 You need to understand how op amps work: the voltage difference between inverting and non-inverting inputs is kept zero (ideally, and in practice also very low), and the input has very high impedance. In other words, you cannot force the voltage difference be high from outside, because the internal circuitry is "eating" the difference.

[@Thedrop83]

Hi, i'm very interest in a prototip of the ne-5532, i mean, i've actually improved my contact with electronic stuff, but admit that i'm very ignorant in this materia. You can add a little description about the circuit - at the beginning of the video - i meant, where I can buy that to amplifier my turntable ? Thanks a lot XD

[@MichaelBeeny]

I'm not quite sure what you are asking? A basic preamp is NOT suitable for a phono input. You need a special type with RIAA EQ. So far I have not shown any that are suitable for a turntable.

[@teduhrindang5704]

thanx for the tips Michael.. its really hard to find genuine chip in my country (Indonesia), everything imported from china.. i have four pairs lm3886 chip from different sellers, but i'm sure they're all fake, because none of them sound as good as my old lm3886 that i built 15 years ago.. sadly, many people in my country built their amplifier with high grade audio components without knowing they have fake chips..

[@michaellundsrensen2292]

Hi Michael, thanks for the video. Very interesting and sad!

[@guitarste]

Thank you Michael, yes l tested the ones l had in stock from ebay and open circuit on pins 3 and 2. If l get any more like it l will ask for a refund. These were noisy which is why l suspected them. Superb info. I am interested if you have a known good supplier for the genuine NE5532’s? Thanks again

[@MichaelBeeny]

I think if you use a proper distributor such as RS, Farnell and other well known names you will be 99% sure they are genuine. They would only buy from the manufacturers directly. They do cost more but if you don't have to bin 60% of them it's worth it.

[@bluescreentricks]

another good indicator to see if you have real or fake opamp. use a fridge magnet, if the component gets attracted its probably fake. the reason is that they use nickel-plated steel in the construction

[@MichaelBeeny]

That's interesting, I did not know that. Thanks for the info, I will try it.

[@T0berius]

Thanks for share with us. From AE where did you bought it ? Some sellers advertise that they are 100% original. It is best to never buy this type of item from AE. Cheers.

[@MichaelBeeny]

Here in New Zealand, I buy from Jaycar or Farnell. Obviously, I don't know the dealers in your country. But at least you now know how to test them. Should you receive any fakes just get your money back.

[@madkaz09]

Hi Michael. As you asked. Testing 3 pairs of 5532's. #1a. NE5532AD SOIC-8 seller told they genuine(local store). OP1 718mV, OP2 734. #1b OP1 717mV, OP2 733 #2a. NE5532AP DIP-8 sold as genuine(internet store). OP1 723mV, OP2 734mV. #2b OP1 723mV, OP2 734mV. #3a/b. NE5532P DIP-8 seller honestly told that he can't confirm they are genuine(local store). They have open loop Now i don't know what to do with fake ones. Usually i throw them, bc i don't use any fake parts at all, even in simple schematics.

[@MichaelBeeny]

Thanks for the info. As to what you do with fakes, let me know if you find any use, coz I've got lots of them. lol

[@ARGON023]

THANK YOU, thank YOU for this very helpful recording. May all Heaven bless you and your loved ones. And I wanted to buy from AliEx 2x LM4780. Now not because someone has put up an auction in Poland, L4780TM- JM22AEM3 - new original from the electronics service with a 2-year warranty. Regards, Regards All.

[@max79444]

Further to the comment below, re your Quad 405 results, I wonder if the op Amps 071 ?? were fake causing problems further down the line ?

[@MichaelBeeny]

I don't have a way to test this chip. I have tested quite a number of Quad boards in the past, they all measure much the same. It's just an old design, good in its day, slow by modern standards.

[@InvisibleYetVisible]

Hello, Do you know if I can do a similar test for an OPA1642? Thanks

[@MichaelBeeny]

Most chips don't have any real measurable static footprints. The 5532 just happens to be one that does.

[@InvisibleYetVisible]

@@MichaelBeeny do fake opamps sound a certain way? I've installed one instead of an TL072 and I can't tell that it's better or worse. I expected it to sound a bit cleaner and brighter. It does, but I still don't know if it's real or fake.

[@MichaelBeeny]

@@InvisibleYetVisible The thing with fake stuff you have no idea way you are getting. Some may be manufactures rejects, some could be simply any old chip that looks the same, some just go bang on switch on. NEVER are they better. Most op amps sound quite similar anyway. The TL072 by todays standard are noisy and slow. Saying that, when you start at a high spec things just get better. Much of the better is not audible and only just measurable. As to which one is better, enters the SNAKE OIL region. Most fakes are dirt cheap and for less important application, they often work fine. The 5532 fakes are really not that bad, often little audible difference. Power amp chips are often very poor, high distortion, power issues and many just blow up sooner or later.

[@ThinhAudioDiy]

Does this test apply to other similar op-amps, thanks

[@MichaelBeeny]

Sadly not, the 5534 can be however.

[@ThinhAudioDiy]

@@MichaelBeeny thank you i checked my ne5532s and they are all fake

[@jimdavis5230]

I found the fake NE5532's had a high DC offset at the output. Often around 50 to 60mV.

[@MichaelBeeny]

Interesting Jim, not looked at offset before. After I do the diode test, I've not gone any further. Out of curiosity, I will in future. Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Could be nasty feeding directly into a DC coupled amplifier!!

[@nguyenkim3616]

I have a question Fake one make signal lower right?

[@MichaelBeeny]

Some fakes can be quite good, some don't work at all. Because they can be anything really, you never know. I doubt it will make the signal lower because the gain is set (largely) by external components.

[@basspig]

Would be interesting to see the square wave response comparison between the fakes and the real chip.

[@MichaelBeeny]

Many of the fakes are different. Looks like they use whatever they can find that sort of does the job.

[@basspig]

@@MichaelBeenyI would think the square wave response would tell a lot about the op amp's characteristics.

[@peterpipe9015]

Hi michael could i test an opa2134pa in the same manner , thank you

[@MichaelBeeny]

I doubt it. I don't know the internals of the 2134. Being pin compatible does not mean the internals are the same. In fact, if they were the same it would be a 5532. lol

[@peterpipe9015]

@@MichaelBeeny thanks michael

[@max79444]

Just bought two of these NE 5532 preamp boards....... Capacitors present and still Fake Chips.... When I come to use them I'll cut out the capacitors ( 1.1nF) and put some genuine RS supplied chips...

[@rhalfik]

Is there a difference between NE5532 and NJM5532?

[@MichaelBeeny]

I'm sorry Martin, I don't think I have even seen this version. Looks slightly better on paper than other makers of this very common chip. In the real world I've not been able to detect any audible difference between any of the 5532s, even some fakes are really quite good for some applications.

[@hectorpascal]

NJM5532 are from the New Japan Radio Corporation which is a genuine Japanese device manufacturer. The specs for the NJM5532 are very similar to other manufacturers' offerings. Of course, it is quite possible that these types are ALSO being faked "over the water"!

[@rough5123]

Alibaba and the forty thieves - 😆🤣

[@MichaelBeeny]

Can you say that these days, even if it's true?

[@siqueirajosegoncalo4215]

Obrigado 👍

[@MkUltra-sk6dx]

Thx

[@RetroResurrectionAI]

Just did the test out of the 4 I bought from AliExpress 3 had fakes one was legit. The one legit one came from Breeze HI-FI hope this helps.

[@user-xh2qi7tn2l]

5532 разработали JRC , JRC позже разработали и Мьюзесы 8920, 1 ,2, 3

[@user-xh2qi7tn2l]

крутой опер в общем за свою стоимость.

[@michaelfischer6984]

Great video, sent my fakes back!

[@MichaelBeeny]

Well done, it's the only way they will ever learn.

[@mikevincent6332]

I received a fake lot of 100 x OPA244 Op-Amps recently. (they were not even functioning as an op-amp) Seller demanded I send proof and I just didn't have time to make a video to prove it. Other suppliers from Ali were OK. They are scarce as hens teeth right now

[@MichaelBeeny]

I think most people would probably not bother either, they rely on that. With me it's the principle, sometimes cost more to get my money back, but at least I get the satisfaction of them knowing that one person could not be scammed.

[@osliverpool]

I think the real reason for all the fakes isn't so much to sell the components themselves, but to make cheap Chinese products look better. A lot of built equipment, or DIY kits, from Chinese suppliers will have fake NE5532s, fake Nichicon and Wima caps, etc. But people buying the stuff will see the photos and think they're getting good components.

[@MichaelBeeny]

I think you are probably right Alan. In many cases the reason they are cheap is because they do contain many fake items. The price should be a bit of a giveaway, but we all like a deal. Sometimes we are lucky but often not so lucky. Do we learn from our mistakes? of course not!!

[@waltergeeraert3667]

I too have received many fake opamps through Aliexpress. Out of annoyance I was forced to design a few test PCB's with many jumper settings for multiple test configurations. And later for multiple opamp footprints. Occasionally received money back, but sometimes a dumbass on the other end who simply claimed: "show with photo that you received something DIFFERENT." No, the imprint is OK, but the contents of the chip are NOT! It does NOT conform to the datasheet. I made a story of it on a handmade website with a lot of test info. On the first line an option to activate Google translate. A link won't work, so Google "opamp test PE1ABR"

[@alunroberts1439]

I like to have my osiloscope on the input and the other channel on the out put an drop the output side sweep the wave up find the fake an duds an they go in the microwave.

[@audiumline4615]

BRASIL 🖒👀

[@hectorpascal]

I automatically assume that any chip I might buy from Aliexpress/eBay will not be genuine. But that doesn't mean they won't work adequately in many non-critical circuits. Just don't build them into your prototype new heart pacemaker! Even generic devices from premium Chinese manufacturers - like ONsemi - can be from batches that "escape" from their factory after failng testing, and mysteriously turn up in the Shenzhen Marketplace. In the end, despite their ridiculous postage costs, it is often less irritating to buy from companies like Digi-key, Mouser, Element 14, RS Components etc. - where the source is guaranteed.

[@MichaelBeeny]

Yes, Hector you are quite right. In less critical areas these fake chips do work almost as well, and most people cannot tell any audible difference. This is true for the 5532, it's not just a fake but a completely different chip. However, many fakes perform really badly, high distortion, way out of spec power wise, even just blow up. I always use Farnel (element 14, silly name!!) for original parts, that's when you do tell differences.

[@peterpipe9015]

I just bought two opa2134pa opamps from rs components and the screenprinted model number varies in position and clarity between both chips . The chips i received look nothing like the website pic of an opa2134pa on rs website. The originals normally have a round indentation directly above pin 1 and a half moon notch on the edge . My chips have an indentation between pin 1 and 2 and no half moon on the edge . I put a video on my youtube showing the chips if anyone is familiar with that model . I might have to test them

[@MichaelBeeny]

@@peterpipe9015 I would be surprised if RS would have fakes. Sometimes the same chip is made by a number of different makes and can look externally different. The internals should be the same. If not, they cannot really call it a 2134.

[@peterpipe9015]

@@MichaelBeeny it sounds better than the 5532 which came with the aiyima a07 which is fake according to others who have tested the same model,thank you for the help michael

[@hectorpascal]

@@peterpipe9015 Certainly suspicious! It might be a good idea to contact RS, point them to your video and ask them to confirm their source.

[@fatherloz2800]

Thanks!! yup, sadly all the ones i have are all fakes :(

[@MichaelBeeny]

Sad to hear that but not surprised. You can always use them in less important circuits.

[@smokesandalloy9487]

Cloning cheap as chip chips. Probably saving on logistical costs more than anything.

[@meowcula]

I'm showing real NE5532s for sale at digikey for 78 canadian cents... I have to wonder what profit Chinese knock-offs are making... I just tested all my 5532s. I have 9 of them currently and all of them checked out OK. Diodes in both directions.

[@MichaelBeeny]

Probably more than Digikey sadly. I've not found them at all unstable. Square wave at such high frequency won't look very square, however. If you have not already got one, try about 15pf across the feedback resistor.

[@meowcula]

@@MichaelBeeny Thank you I will try that!

[@y_x2]

You use the 5534 for the low distorsion, if you don't need this feature simply buy a cheaper one like the 747 or 324 (LM 324 is really bad!).