Best way to dampen a micro-vibrating Printed Circuit Board inside an amp? Thanks!

Not sure about tinkering inside the amp, but many people will put isolation footers under the bottom of the amp.  Might make sense to start there?

You'd have to dismount from chassis, support with sorbothane or some other substance. My previous pre, Joule Electra floated board in like manner.

Goop.

A clear glue that remains very flexible.Don't need too much. Only need a few connecting dots.

Stillpoints once offered a product designed for this.

How did you identify a problem with microvibrations?

Measuring was easy 😊

More audiophoolery! 

There are 'off the shelf parts' that are easily purchased, PCB Standoffs come with  Anti Vibration Designs. 

One of the designs discovered will be suitable for the role being selected for it.

A Part on a PCB that has a microphonic property that is audible can benefit, but it is better to treat  the Microphonic issues at the source of the noise, this has been known to remove the audible Microphonics.

Using the PCB anti vibration is not an issue, it would be 'belt and braces' if used in conjunction when treating a Microphonic issue. 

Oh please!

E-A-R Isodamp (available from Michael Percy Audio), fo.Q Damping Tape.

How exactly are you hearing/determining a board inside the amp is vibrating ? If this system is on and making music (causing vibration), how would you hear that the board is moving ? 

A disease in search of a cure!

All advice appreciated - thank you

Try Blu-tack putty. Easily removable 

First, how in the world did you determine that this "micro-vibrating Printed Circuit Board" is vibrating?

Second, assuming this isn't absolute hokum, have a professional address the issue.

Lastly, never buy anything from that company again!

 BTW:  what is the name and model number of this alleged amp?

I'm somewhat embarrased to say, that a few years ago I was 'experimenting' with a couple of Naim pre-amps, a 122x and a 202(x?) (both garbage btw), and both had 'floating' main boards. They, Naim, even went so far as to say in the owners manual that movement of the DIN sockets was normal and supposed to be that way, as they believed that a floating MoBo gave better sonics. Maybe this is where the OP is getting his ideas from?

Having said that, and I'm in no way endorsing or agreeing with the practise; the bat sh*t crazy people at Naim also have a machine that SHAKES their cables - yes, all it does is hang the cables vertically in a tall frame and shake them vigorously; again claiming sonic benefits!

There's also someone on the tube (! where else!) who recomends that rear panel sockets on DACs and pre-amps should have their retaining screws loosened slightly so they don't 'grip' and hold them securely to the circuit board they're attached to, claiming real sonic benefits from decoupling the sockets from the chassis. This is easily done should anyone wish to try it, as it's easily returned to standard.

@carlsbad2 

How did you identify a problem with micro-vibrations?

@vinylfun 

Measuring was easy 😊

@vinylfun

Pray tell, how did you measure the micro-vibrations?

A question for someone to ask, who doubts PCB's pick up Vibration which can be detrimental to the Signal being generated and transferred.

Ask Audio Note why they are having PCB's produced from Panzerholz, which as a a material has the value of the intrinsic properties for Damping/Dissipation well documented.

Ask Taiko why there are components used in their Topology that are Interference Fit into a Panzerholz Periphery Ring. 

I would feel quite comfortable with the notion, both AN and Taiko are making the designs available as a result of Objective Evaluation and not the typical methodology seen on forum, which usually equates to voicing ones "Contempt Prior to Investigation"     

How did the OP determine that these mysterious "micro-vibrating circuit boards" had an impact on sound? 

I have my personal doubts and feel it's just creating another excuse for substandard music reproduction from over-engineered, high-end audio equipment.

Enjoy the music and stop being hypercritical of "ghosts" in the system that are less than a rounding error in the reproduction chain.

@bruce19 +1

To OP,  However you determined this phenomenon, will you be able to tell if "the cure" works as advertised?

I would absolutely do the least intrusive remedy. Simply to ease your brain.

A healthy amount of blue tack placed strategically might be your ticket. Let us know

Or if you're all in on this...get a tube of green glue and spread it liberally on the offending board. Beware it will wander.

This poster is not responsible for any misadventures you may have.

Regards,

barts

@pindac is correct, there are any number of companies concerned with this, I presume they did due diligence. My Joule Electra pre did this with signal board containing tube sockets, I could see how this could reduce tube microphonics.

As a debate about whether these vibrations exist at all seems to be brewing, I’ll throw out my solution:  avoid amps with printed circuit boards.

Some of the Best Tube Amp's are Point to Point Soldered, no Circuit Boards and a Schematic that is designed with a Topology for the shortest Signal Path achievable that does not generate noise.

Start adding components to such a Circuit and there is still be the likelihood Microphonics is able to be produced, hence  those in the know and experienced in addressing such matters are quite confident their methods for attaching a part to a chassis, has addressed the issue and is to be a component fitted with an Isolation as part of the mounting.

It is best to take on the idea, it is the Component that has a Microphonic not the Part that enables it to be added to the circuit.       

@jasonbourne71 +100

Townshend Seismic podium are best for any damping or vibration issues but being large, they will not fit inside the amp. So you will need to move the PCB out of the amp by extending any cables attached to the PCB and lay it on the podium.

These podiums also need a minimum weight to be effective. So just add 10-20kg of weights on top of the PCB.

Excellent!  

This is the sort of logical, fail proof, easy to do fix I was looking for!  

Thank you 😊

@OP. Fill the amp with a plastic bag full of lead shot. 

@yoyoyaya 

The best answer yet. After filling with lead shot, chuck it all in the sea gangster style. That’s the best way to get rid of problems.

My friends don't call me TonyYaYa for nuttin:))

@yoyoyaya Tony ha ha ya ya

This discussion is as nuts as mine. I think it may be a good idea to start another one…..”Are there any amplifiers you just can’t listen to?”

The OP avoids direct questions so perhaps the amp should just be buried along with the hidden evidence asked for.

I’m thinking of good vibrations… it’s giving me ex-cit-tations… blab blab blab blab.

@mylogic. RIP Brian Wilson.

I'm glad you took my comments in the spirit they were intended.

I'm pickin' up good micro vibrations, she's giving me micro excitations - doesn't have quite the same ring to it...

@yoyoyaya Holy Grail Record

Do you remember a previous discussion about a rare $1,200 record for customs declaration. We never found out what that record was either.

@mylogic - +1 for your powers of recall/association. Now you mention it, yes - I do indeed remember that discussion.

Let's see if we find out this time.

I note that it has a PCB, so all the point to point wired tube amp owners can rest easy in their beds.

Tubes can have microphonics, and they are easily measured and heard. Soli state, not so much. P-P wiring does away with PCBs, but the wires can ring - audibly and measurably in a P-P wired tube amp also. So at what frequencies did the micro-resonances occur? You can change the frequencies by mass loading the PCB or you can absorb them by mounting the PCB on Sorbothane.

@panzrwagn “what frequencies did the micro-resonances occur?”

Don’t hold your breath or bank on an answer