Audio output stage workhorse — now in the surplus channel
The 2SC5200 is a 230 V, 15 A NPN power transistor in a TO-264-3 package, rated for 150 W maximum dissipation. It was designed primarily for high-fidelity audio amplifier output stages and linear power supplies where the combination of high voltage, high current, and a 30 MHz transition frequency provides clean linear gain through the audio band. The minimum DC current gain of 55 at 1 A collector current and 5 Vce gives the designer enough base-drive headroom to keep the pre-driver stage simple.
Obsolete — plan around it
Sourcing now runs through the independent surplus and broker channel, where traceable, date-coded stock is available but requires vetting for counterfeit risk and lot consistency. For a BOM that still calls out this part, the procurement path is to locate verified surplus inventory and qualify it against the original datasheet limits — or to begin a pin-compatible replacement evaluation.
The 230 V Vceo sets the maximum rail voltage the transistor can withstand in a linear amplifier — typically used with ±70 V to ±90 V supplies in a class-AB topology. The 15 A continuous collector current rating supports output stages delivering several hundred watts into 4 Ω or 8 Ω loads, provided the heatsink can handle the 150 W dissipation. The 30 MHz fT is well above the audio band, so the transistor contributes negligible phase shift in the amplifier's feedback loop. The 3 V saturation voltage at 800 mA base current and 8 A collector current is a useful check when estimating worst-case drop in a quasi-complementary output pair.