Component placement, does it really matter all that much?

[slashsound]

I read an article where Bogner makes a big deal about how the components on a board are oriented. Does this really matter, and if so, where can I dig up some info on this since its not in my Dave Hunter book and I cant find it on the copy of Radiotrons that I downloaded a couple of days ago? Thanks friends.

[bdc]

It is important where things are on the board........In order to run as short a wire leads as possible to your tubes, pots, jacks.....Beyond that theres much I don't understand.......Longer wire runs invite noise........There does need to be an overall efficiency in this......Follow the layouts for the given projects...If it's a new design or hybrid, look at layouts for simular amps..Typically the componants for V-1 are located close on the board and so on. The location and direction of Transformers is also important. If your getting into high gain matters become particularly delicate.

I'm sure Bogner knows a lot many of us don't .........
Ken Fisher knew even better........

[paulster]

Absolutely.

You have to consider that gain stages flip phase by 180degrees and tone stacks, etc. all cause phase shifts of varying degrees.

Couple this with predominantly high impedance circuits that we use in tube amps that are susceptible to crosstalk and you can very easily kill off all the life in a circuit simply by routing two plate wires together, for instance, or you can create instability.

You could easily demonstrate more difference in a single amp by changing the lead dress than swapping the OT for one from a different manufacturer. That would only be to illustrate the point, but it's an absolutely critical part of the implementation of an amp design.

It's also another good reason why you need to get yourself a kit of some description or an amp to mod. It's far easier to understand these things from practical experience than trying to acquire encyclopedic knowledge of the topic without any real world understanding of what is and isn't significant.

For example, you could argue over whether George's or Brian's transformers are the best. But you could implement them so poorly in an amp because of poor lead dress and parasitic effects that the comparison was actually moot.

[slashsound]

Absolutely.

You have to consider that gain stages flip phase by 180degrees and tone stacks, etc. all cause phase shifts of varying degrees.

Couple this with predominantly high impedance circuits that we use in tube amps that are susceptible to crosstalk and you can very easily kill off all the life in a circuit simply by routing two plate wires together, for instance, or you can create instability.

You could easily demonstrate more difference in a single amp by changing the lead dress than swapping the OT for one from a different manufacturer. That would only be to illustrate the point, but it's an absolutely critical part of the implementation of an amp design.

It's also another good reason why you need to get yourself a kit of some description or an amp to mod. It's far easier to understand these things from practical experience than trying to acquire encyclopedic knowledge of the topic without any real world understanding of what is and isn't significant.

For example, you could argue over whether George's or Brian's transformers are the best. But you could implement them so poorly in an amp because of poor lead dress and parasitic effects that the comparison was actually moot.

What would be a poor lead dress?

[bulatovic]

This



(it's a 18watt, but anything that looks like this is usually called "rats nest" no matter which amp it's about)

[bdc]

This



(it's a 18watt, but anything that looks like this is usually called "rats nest" no matter which amp it's about)

Wow.......The layout of the turrets on that board are fugly........
Certainly the wires can be shortened and routed better........but that board is horrendous.......got the under board wires running over.......been there done that..looks like crap......what a waste of braided wire......What do the heater wires look like....heh heh......I still fight those but I'm getting better........

Thing about 18s non cascaded is you build em' crappy and they'll still sound good most of the time.......Now I'm not advocating any kind of crappy build.....