Common and Historically Important Op-Amps
There are thousands of op-amps. These examples are useful because they represent different generations and priorities rather than because every one is the best choice today.
| Part / family | Why it is worth knowing |
|---|---|
| µA741 / LM741 | The classic teaching op-amp. Historically important; normally happier on dual supplies than on modern low-voltage single supplies. |
| LM358 | Dual low-power bipolar amplifier famous for single-supply use and input range including the negative rail. |
| LM324 | Quad relative of LM358; common in control, instrumentation, and industrial circuits. |
| RC4558 / NJM4558 family | Classic dual bipolar device used extensively in consumer audio and musical-instrument electronics. |
| TL071 / TL072 / TL074 | JFET-input single, dual, and quad amplifiers with high input impedance; very familiar in audio. |
| NE5532 | Low-noise dual bipolar audio amplifier with substantial output drive. |
| OP07 | Precision low-offset bipolar amplifier with a major instrumentation legacy. |
| CA3140 | Classic MOSFET-input op-amp illustrating very high input impedance. |
| Modern rail-to-rail CMOS | Low-voltage families optimized for sensors, ADC drivers, battery systems, and mixed-signal designs. |
A famous old device is not automatically the right modern replacement. Select by supply, common-mode range, output swing, noise, offset, bandwidth, load, temperature, and package.
The 741 as teacher
The 741 remains useful for understanding differential input stages, current mirrors, level shifting, compensation, and push-pull outputs—even when a modern application should use something else.