What do you guys think of this PCB layout? (gratuitous image and snide humour post)

[Jocko Homo]

Inspired by the lame "Will It Float" segment on David Letterman, I came up with the idea that we can have a game to decide if a PCB design will work, if it is crap, and if you kid can do better.

The game should be open to all, except maybe humourless concept designers, because we already know that they can do better. [joke]

"What do we get if I win?"

I dunno..........a gym sock, formerly owned by Carl Zappa, and still damp? I dunno.

A copy of a PCB layout software that doesn't make rounded corners??? I dunno.

Anyway.....here is the first candidate. Hmmm.....has some phat traces, but they get skinny in some places.........no rounded corners.....some may be too long........I dunno.


Whaddya think?

Will it work?

[Jocko Homo]

Had to break it up to make it fit.

Wonder if my buddy P-A is checking this out? He should get first crack at guessing. )Hint: he may know what this is.)

Jocko

[bigparsnip]

did I hear anyone say JSR?

[tiroth]

I think including some bottom copper would vastly increase the chances of it working...or at least getting some current to flow.

EDIT: it appeared!

Seriously Jocko, I think it would be great if you sketched some broad outlines for us on where to go in DAC design. You don't need to give away the family jewels, but I think you'd give people an excellant place to start if you gave a list of suggestions for a great DAC that can be built from sourcable (non-exotic/unobtainium/$100 per chip) parts.

Something like:
These DACs are promising: A,B,C
Parallel DACs?
You should/should not ASRC or PLL reclock
Use this reciever [X]

You've already posted some great tidbits on I/V design as well as your comments on signal transformers, although I've never publicly seen your S/PDIF reciever topology. We've got scads of clock designs, some better than others. Yet all we've got for a reference DAC design is JWB's "Cheap 24/96", which was never intended to be a top-flight design.

[till]

i would prefer a Frank Zappa sock.

[Coulomb]

Originally posted by Jocko Homo
Inspired by the lame "Will It Float" segment on David Letterman, I came up with the idea that we can have a game to decide if a PCB design will work, if it is crap, and if you kid can do better.

The game should be open to all, except maybe humourless concept designers, because we already know that they can do better. [joke]

"What do we get if I win?"

I dunno..........a gym sock, formerly owned by Carl Zappa, and still damp? I dunno.

A copy of a PCB layout software that doesn't make rounded corners??? I dunno.

Anyway.....here is the first candidate. Hmmm.....has some phat traces, but they get skinny in some places.........no rounded corners.....some may be too long........I dunno.


Whaddya think?

Will it work?

Difine "Work" do you mean function at all or Function well?

BTW The Fat traces do not become skinny, they appear to be branch traces on a power rail, a subtle way to control eddie currents I would say.

I can theorise the DC power connection, three voltages it looks like, the circuit also appears Stereo in nature. A line level filter of some sort, but why such large traces? It could almost be a speaker protection circuit?

Oh well, I am only a novice at this, what do I know.

Anthony

[roddyama]

Originally posted by till
i would prefer a Frank Zappa sock.

LOL, That was CARL Zappa, Frank's fat smelly brother.

[Alcaid]

I've seen those pictures somewhere, but I can't remember where...... It bugs me...

[Christer]

I think it is an Alexander amp. Will it work? Dunno, but I have
enough dirty socks already.

[guido]

Originally posted by Christer
I think it is an Alexander amp. Will it work? Dunno, but I have
enough dirty socks already.

Congratulations,

You won a sock! Guess it works, since AD published it

AN-211 "Alexander Current-Feedback Audio Power Amplifier" by
Mark Alexander.

Page 11-140 of Audio / Video reference manual, Analog Devices
1992.

Circuit Board Layout: This is probably one of the most critical elements for a wide bandwidth audio power amp. Key is keep trace lengths to an absolute minimum and keep overall layout very small in physical size. First proto's gave oscillation because of bad layout...

Knew i seen it before

Greetings,