Detail PCB Way Built Quality For PCM58 DAC

This post is a series from my previous post about my PCB order at pcbway.com.

The PCB that I ordered from PCB Way is actually consisting of main board for PCM58 DAC with an op-amp output per channel for IV conversion and low-pass filter. This DAC is in non-oversampling and using shift-register for I2s input. The I2s input is chosen because it is more flexible for me to put the digital input module, either USB or SPDIF input, as long as the output from receiver module is I2s.

The other PCB is the power supply board. This power supply is consist of rectifier and capacitors, then goes to 4 sections of regulator using LM317 and LM337.

Now let's see how good is the PCB quality and how easy to solder with the components installed on it.

The overall PCB specification is 1.6 mm thickness, FR4 material with 2 layers of 2 oz. copper.

I ordered different surface finish between the PCM58 DAC module PCB and the power supply PCB. Surface finish is the holes pad surface are for soldering purpose.

I am using immersion gold for the PCM58 DAC module PCB, you can check the finish on the photo above and the first photo bellow. While for the power supply PCB is HASL with lead, you can check the detail on the second photos bellow.

The immersion gold finished cost more (absolutely) and has better looking than the HASL with lead. I cannot tell anything in term of conductor quality between them, but for sure, I have no issue when soldering the components on those PCB.

I just want to compare to my others PCB that I bought readily in the e-commerce shop, the quality is so much different. I can easily tell that PCB Way product is far way better. From the PCB total weight, masking finished, and the FR-4 material quality is easy to tell which one better.

Back to the PCB for this PCM58 DAC build, I have checked all connection between components and I didn't find any error. They are all made precisely based on the Graber files during ordered.

Since I already have all the components on hands, then I start to populating them. The soldering process is also easy; the lead easily spread through the soldering pad with minimal lead require. This is very efficient.

I checked all voltage and set the trim to make sure the output voltage is within the specification. After this process, I attach the heatsink to each regulator IC. Now this power supply PCB module is all finished without any issue.

This proses is the same with the DAC PCB module, I completed it with ease.

I cannot go any further since I still waiting for the DAC case and the transformer to come before I can continue and finished this DAC project.

Until then, see you on my next post OK.

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