{"id":4616,"date":"2020-03-30T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T06:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/delaydude.de\/?p=4616"},"modified":"2020-03-11T15:54:09","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T14:54:09","slug":"smd-vs-tht-bauteile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/smd-vs-tht-bauteile\/","title":{"rendered":"SMD vs. THT parts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ask<\/a>Today, more and more circuit boards are assembled with cost-effective SMD parts.
\nBut what are the advantages and the disadvantages of SMD technology?
\nWhy does it make sense to use in some cases THT technology?
\nAnd what do the acronyms SMD and THT actually stand for?<\/p>\n

SMD and THT<\/h3>\n

SMD is the acronym for surface mounted devices. All parts are mounted directly on the surface of the circuit board.
\nTHT means thru hole technology. For this technology, a circuit board with small drilling holes is necessary.<\/p>\n

Cost-effective and fast assembly<\/h3>\n

The installation of SMD parts can be operated by machines. For the machines can deal easily with the small parts, the manufacturing of a circuit board is done in a few seconds. Thereby, it is a very cost-effective way to produce a circuit.
\nThe parts are long-lasting. But if there is a defect, a repair is almost impossible. Accidents can happen so fast: you have assembled a really huge pedalboard but unfortunately, you have connected the wrong power supply, what definitively can do harm to some parts of your effect pedals.
\nAt my workshop I have also seen pedals with SMD parts, arriving clattering and rattling. A capacitator came loose. The legs of a SMD capacitor are as thin as a single hair. If they are not stucked or glued to the circuit board, even a little spill can crash the whole pedal.<\/p>\n

If the pedal needs a repair, you will have to pay for the whole manufacturing again. For it is almost impossible to repair SMD circuit boards or the repair will be very expensive, the complete circuit board must be replaced.
\nEspecially, when the warranty has already been expired, this is pretty annoying.
\nActually, the cheap production costs will in this case become quite expensive for the end-consumer.<\/p>\n

Space-saving circuit boards<\/h3>\n

Many digital effects have one or several big, mostly double-sided assembled circuit boards, that fill the enclosure completely.
\nIf you want to produce such a circuit with THT parts, the pedal will become quite big.
\nSome time ago, you could find many big box Deluxe Memory Man delays on pedalboards all over the world. No guitarist paid attention to the needed space on a pedalboard. At those days, even extensive circuits produced with TH technology would not have been a problem at all.
\nBut today, the pedals get smaller and smaller and many guitarists are looking for extensive digital effects in mini enclosures.<\/p>\n

Availability of parts<\/h3>\n

The production of many old parts has been stopped and therefore, they are not available anymore. Or you will only find remainders that are pretty expensive.
\nEspecially, if a manufacturer has developed a certain circuit, it can be pretty annoying if these special parts suddenly run out.
\nWhile the market mostly offers a limited number of old germanium transistors, SMD parts are normally available in a great number and for a longer time.<\/p>\n

The sound<\/h3>\n

Regarding the sound, there are different opinions.
\nSMD parts mostly produce less hiss and have a more limited range of the variation of values. Therefore, all pedals of one batch will sound the same.
\nIn my opinion, the sound of pedals with SMD parts is different to the sound of a pedal with a THT circuit board.
\nBut for the higher tolerance regarding the values of THT parts, two pedals built up via true hole technology might sound completely different.
\nRegarding the sonic differences of Mythos effects with SMD or THT parts, there is a nice demo video<\/a> on the internet. There you will find a comparison of two pedals that only differ in the respective technology of the used parts.<\/p>\n

Alternatives<\/h3>\n

To be honest, I think, that some advantages of SMD parts (like costs, availability or the need for space) cannot be denied.
\nBut the lack of the chance to repair a SMD circuit and the sonic character speak against SMD technology.
\nThus, the combination of both technologies might be the answer.
\nWhere ever the sound matters, manufacturers could use THT parts.
\nThe protection circuit against electrical surge and reverse polarity of the power supply should also be built up with THT parts to facilitate a repair.
\nFor everything that is relevant for the control (midi, LFO, switching) the manufacturers could use
\nSMD parts.
\nThereby, you would get a high-quality pedal that combines the advantages of both technologies.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[256,269,1683,1681,259,263,268],"tags":[2968,392,2503,2943,2973,1333,131,2972,393,2970,1813,2975,1799,295,2977,2969,2974,120,115,2966,165,899,2963,1199,2971,2976,2965,2964,2967],"class_list":["post-4616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7000-questions-to-the-dude","category-analog-delays","category-delays","category-digital-delays-pedals","category-overdrive-pedals","category-pedalboard","category-pedals","tag-advantage","tag-analog","tag-assembly","tag-aufbau","tag-bauteile","tag-capacitor","tag-circuit","tag-control","tag-digital","tag-disadvantage","tag-effect","tag-kondensator","tag-lfo","tag-midi","tag-montage","tag-nachteil","tag-parts","tag-pedal","tag-pedalboard","tag-platine","tag-repair","tag-reparatur","tag-smd","tag-sound","tag-steuerung","tag-surface-mounted-devices","tag-thru-hole-technology","tag-tht","tag-vorteil"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9GLlF-1cs","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5588,"url":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/deluxe-memory-man-big-box-oder-xo-version\/","url_meta":{"origin":4616,"position":0},"title":"Which pedal should I get? Deluxe Memory Man: Big Box or XO version?","author":"Delay Dude","date":"Wednesday May 5th, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A reader\u2019s question: I need the help of a specialist regarding the Deluxe Memory Man: To me, the sound of Ben McLeod (All Them Witches) is brilliant and I would love to recreate it. Luckily, the guy offers several rig rundowns online, so it ought to be an easy project\u2026.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "7000 questions to the Dude"","block_context":{"text":"7000 questions to the Dude","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/category\/7000-questions-to-the-dude\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/delaydude.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/frag-den-dude-300x169.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5806,"url":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/review-donner-yellow-fall\/","url_meta":{"origin":4616,"position":1},"title":"Review Donner Yellow Fall","author":"Delay Dude","date":"Friday January 28th, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Donner Yellow Fall is a true analog delay pedal in a very compact enclosure. And to get straight to the point: this tiny enclosure contains really explosive material. A genuine vintage delay sound! Construction The yellow aluminum enclosure is very compact and has the perfect weight, so it remains\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Analog Delays"","block_context":{"text":"Analog Delays","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/category\/pedals\/analog-delays\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Donner Yellow Fall","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/delaydude.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/IMG_7789-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4907,"url":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/review-nux-atlantic-teil-i\/","url_meta":{"origin":4616,"position":2},"title":"Review: Nux Atlantic -Part I","author":"Delay Dude","date":"Monday August 17th, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The first part of this two-part review is dedicated to the construction of the Nux Atlantic delay\/reverb. And in the second part you will get to know all about the sound of this astonishing bargain. Construction The Nux Atlantic is a two-in-one pedal, that offers delay and reverb. The knobs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Delays"","block_context":{"text":"Delays","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/category\/pedals\/delays\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nux Atlantic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/delaydude.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_6764-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4759,"url":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/budget-delays-teil-ii\/","url_meta":{"origin":4616,"position":3},"title":"Budget Delays Teil II","author":"Delay Dude","date":"Monday July 27th, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Die Auswahl an guten Delays ist riesig und f\u00fcr jeden Geldbeutel ist etwas passendes dabei. Auch im Budget Bereich findet man viele gute Delays, sowohl analoge, Tape Emulationen und digital Delays. In dieser dreiteiligen Serie m\u00f6chte ich aus allen drei Bereichen einige Vertreter vorstellen, die es derzeit f\u00fcr sehr schmales\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "7000 questions to the Dude"","block_context":{"text":"7000 questions to the Dude","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/category\/7000-questions-to-the-dude\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Frag den Dude","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/delaydude.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Frag-den-Dude-300x169.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4894,"url":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/review-nux-tape-core-deluxe-teil-i\/","url_meta":{"origin":4616,"position":4},"title":"Review: Nux Tape Core Deluxe \u2013 Part I","author":"Delay Dude","date":"Monday June 29th, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Nux Tape Core Deluxe is not even new, but nevertheless, it might worth it to mind this pedal if you are looking for a new tap echo. It is really robust; its editor makes it very versatile and the price of 69\u20ac is unbeatable. Outer appearance of the Nux\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Delays"","block_context":{"text":"Delays","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/category\/pedals\/delays\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nux Tape core deluxe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/delaydude.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_6773-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3035,"url":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/digital-delays\/","url_meta":{"origin":4616,"position":5},"title":"Digital delays","author":"Delay Dude","date":"Monday November 12th, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In the 1980s, the first digital chips were used to produce delay pedals. The advantage was, that these racks and pedals were able to offer a longer delay time than the analog delays of those days and, at the same time, produced less hiss. Although many musicians accredited a lack\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Boss"","block_context":{"text":"Boss","link":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/category\/hersteller\/boss\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/delaydude.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/DSCF3826-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4616\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delaydude.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}