Do you guys use IC sockets?

[ezkcdude]

I'm sorry if this sounds naive, but I would assume for best sound quality it is better to solder the chips directly to the PCB. Is that right? Does using a socket noticeably degrade sound?

[dsavitsk]

my experience is that it does degrade sound. If you know the board you are using is a good design (meaning you are not prototyping a board you just designed) and you are pretty sure the chip is good, you should solder it right to the board.

[pwillard]

There are many kinds of sockets.

The flat compression types AKA "cheap sockets" will eventually degrade/oxidize, etc, eventually affecting overall signal quality

The milled socket with a berylium copper compression spring inside usually costs 4 times what a standard tinned flat surface types. For this extra cost you get a more reliable, nearly gas-tight press-fit connection. If you are just not ready to commit the $11.00 op amp to solder, at least use a milled socket.

[dsavitsk]

Originally posted by pwillard
If you are just not ready to commit the $11.00 op amp to solder, at least use a milled socket.

Yes, milled is much better. With opamps, unless it is a really difficult bi-polar one with a tendancy to oscillate, sockets are fine, and are probably a good idea. With digital chips -- cs8412, tda1543, etc. -- even a high quality socket is a bad idea.

[jackinnj]

I used sockets when I lacked confidence -- now I have gone to the extreme of "almost always" using surface mount components.

Back in the bad old days, things would go wonky with your Fairchild uA741 -- these days it's difficult (well, not THAT difficult )to kill an opamp.

Of course, my grey hair and receeding hairline attest to the fact that I killed numerous 12ax7's, 6146's and an occasional 807 in my day.

[peranders]

.... so as a conclusion:

When to use sockets?

1 When you have for instance a program memory you want to replace, EEPROM or similar.

2 If you of some other reason want to change the IC without damaging the pcb and/or the IC, like in prototyping.

If you want good reliability choose good sockets.

May influence on performance if the IC is very fast so additional stray inductance may contribuite. If you have a cheaper socket you may experience trouble after some years of usage.

If you want use sockets and choose good quality, do it. No harm it in that.