Point to Point

The most common solution of building circuitry is by using a printed circuit board (PCB). As we investigate in this standard solution of the industry, we discover that it is impossible to maintain purity during transmission, because of the indirect connections between components. Signals froma component has to first pass through a soldering point, a soldering pad, a thin flat copper layer, a soldering pad, and finally to another soldering point again before reaching the next.This imperfect contact keeps recurring throughout the whole circuitry and reduces the purity of the transmission. The adhesive part which bonds the copper layer to the glass fibre board and the protective coating on the copper layer are inevitable due to the manufacturing process of PCB, which provide a poor environment for the transmission of signals.

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The quality of the copper of the conduction layer, in terms of purity and crystal structure, cannot be determined and, by our findings, its profile lowers the quality of signal and power transmission. To achieve the purest and cleanest transmission, we decide not to use PCB. We start considering if we use the usual approach of valve amplifier, components are too far apart and a lot of connection wires are needed. If we directly connect components together, for the small size of solid-state components, it will be an impossible and unsafe work. We finally decide to go for a circuit board which can hold components, giving structural strength and possibility to work on.

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We immediately think of PTFE as an alternative, which is famous for its outstanding dielectric property and high stability over environment changes. But we find that it is too soft in nature which causes structural problems when it comes to a larger piece. To solve this problem, we finally come to PEEK, a much more expensive engineered plastic. PEEK is very stable over environment changes and provides excellent dielectric properties. With its hardness and stiffness, it gives a superior condition for amplification.

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As a result, all components are attached onto the PEEK circuit board and connected directly to each other without intermediate disturbance, reserving the quality of the original signal. Many soldering points are reduced than before. In our auditions, this approach gives much better purity as well as clean and direct sound. But as a big drawback of the solution, extra days of intensive works to build the circuit by labour and quality check are needed. 

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