Copper tape atop IC's?

[nonsub]

I was looking at some pics of modded equipment. One fellow seemed to like to put copper tape on top of all IC's, wire them to eachother (and assumedly tie to digital ground.) Is this know to actually do anything? Thanks!

 

[Groundloops]

It may shield some RF emission or irridation.

 

[infinia]

It may shield some RF emission or irridation.

Or make it worse esp if not grounded really well. LOL
If you polish it up it looks real purty tho

 

[DigitalJunkie]

I've done that on some RF equipment to improve stability,and 'clean up' some digital noise..It helps. One drawback with RF circuitry,is that it can change the stray capacitance,and de-tune things slightly,so you might need to compensate.

 

[infinia]

I've done that on some RF equipment to improve stability,and 'clean up' some digital noise..It helps. One drawback with RF circuitry,is that it can change the stray capacitance,and de-tune things slightly,so you might need to compensate.

But I hope you were staring at a spectrum analyzer when you tried it. LOL Adding metal on a digital section in my experience has never made anything better, it usually involved cutting.
Besides applying RF bandaid's are just used for discovering the true cause of a bigger issue best solved by other means. I don't think anyone can say in their right mind, by globally sticking random pieces of foil atop IC's will be an improvement, sorry.

EDIT>Thermally it would make it worse than just basic black plastic.

 

[wwenze]

What about sticking blu-tacks?

 

[nonsub]

Do the tuning dots go under on on top of the copper then LMFAO

 

[wwenze]

Do the tuning dots go under on on top of the copper then LMFAO

Uh oh... looks like they didn't account for compatibility.

But since everything that can be done will increase sound quality, I guess either way is fine.

 

[RichLund]

Is it to provide a heatsink. Grounded to dissipate any accumulated charge?

 

[EC8010]

It's to provide an electrostatic screen against all the clattering going on inside the IC. But to be effective, it needs a low inductance path to ground, and that means it needs to bond directly to a ground plane at each end of the IC.

 

[godfrey]

Ingenious!!! - little tin-foil hats for our equipment.

Up to now, the more prudent among us have been able to protect ourselves with Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanies, but have been powerless to prevent them from influencing our hifis (and thus our very music!) with their evil rays.

With this new invention, they won't even be able to probe our equipment to learn what we are listening to.

I feel real hope that we are winning at last!

 

[lcsaszar]

I use two pieces of BGA copper heatsinks (from computer parts store) ontop of a TDA1541A DAC chip, with excellent result. I connected the heatsinks to ground.

 

[Joris]

I use two pieces of BGA copper heatsinks (from computer parts store) ontop of a TDA1541A DAC chip, with excellent result. I connected the heatsinks to ground.

Looks pretty nice! I cut a Pentium 4 heatsink in two pieces and use them
There's no sound improvement, nor there is a decrease. It just looks cool and keeps it cool

 

[firechief]

trying to hide the part numbers?

 

[Hennie]

I hope you guys use real single crystal oxygen free copper.

 

[lcsaszar]

trying to hide the part numbers?

I hope I will remember the part number after a few years That spunky TDA1541A gets really hot without the heatsink. I am surprised that nobody else is worried about it. It's more peace of mind than seeking ultimate sound quality in my case.