Editing Operational amplifier (section)

===Applicability considerations===
While the 741 was historically used in audio and other sensitive equipment, such use is now rare because of the improved [[Noise (electronics)|noise]] performance of more modern op amps. Apart from generating noticeable hiss, 741s and other older op amps may have poor [[common-mode rejection ratio]]s and so will often introduce cable-borne mains hum and other common-mode interference, such as switch ''clicks'', into sensitive equipment.

The ''741'' has come to often mean a generic op-amp IC (such as μA741, LM301, 558, LM324, TBA221 — or a more modern replacement such as the TL071). The description of the 741 output stage is qualitatively similar for many other designs (that may have quite different input stages), except:
* Some devices (μA748, LM301, LM308) are not internally compensated (require an external capacitor from output to some point within the operational amplifier, if used in low closed-loop gain applications).
* Some modern devices have ''rail-to-rail'' output capability, meaning that the output can range from within a few millivolts of the positive supply voltage to within a few millivolts of the negative supply voltage.<ref name="rail-to-rail" />