Sutherland Hubble - Manual (Page 5)

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
MUST HAVE PHYSICAL CIRCUIT PLATFORM
Once a circuit topology is optimized for sound quality, it is critical that the surrounding physical
environment does not compromise that achievement. Anytime two conductors are at a different
voltage potential, there is an electric fi eld generated between them. Dielectrics within that fi eld
become involved in charge storage. If not carefully consider, that extra charge storage can time
smear details of a musical signal. Circuit board material is a dielectric. With normal double-
sided construction, there are copper conductors on each side of the board. Unintentionally, a
new capacitor is introduced into the circuit, formed by top surface copper, bottom surface cop-
per and the circuit board dielectric sandwiched between the two. Not the quality of capacitor to
have in a high-end signal path. Some manufactures make the situation even worse by going
to multi-layer boards. Instead of two layers of copper, there are four or more layers of copper.
Even worse than that, the dielectric between layers is much thinner and the undesired capaci-
tive effect is inversely proportional to thickness.
The Hubble addresses the issue of circuit board dielectric in a novel – yet elegantly simple way.
All signal carrying conductors are on the top plane of the circuit board. There are no copper
conductors on the bottom plane of signal carrying regions. Thus there are no electric fi elds
generated between top and bottom layers. The circuit board dielectric is not exposed to electric
fi elds and there is no undesired storage in circuit board material. Very simple, very technically
correct, very effective and unique to the Hubble.
MUST HAVE HIGHEST QUALITY PARTS
FR-4 fi berglass circuit boards, Double-sided with plated thru holes
Dale/Vishay 1% metal fi lm resistors
Wima Polypropylene capacitors for power supply by passing
Custom wound, 1% polystyrene fi lm capacitors for equalization
12 gauge cold rolled steel base and battery compartment
baked epoxy powder coat fi nish
1/2 “ thick anodized aluminum panel
anodized in front panel artwork
gold plated, Tefl on insulated RCA connectors
gold plated confi guration headers and sockets