PCBway Review: Four-layered Active Audio Splitter

I ordered a PCB from PCBWay for the first time. I was curious about how detailed the soldering paths and visual elements would be, especially my finely designed logo of my name.

The ordering process was easy and fast, as was the manufacturing and DHL delivery. The packaging was strong, ensuring the sealed PCB boards were well protected in bubble wrap, with a stencil securely placed between rigid cardboard sheets.

My planned prototype product is intended to have a premium look and feel, featuring a matte black finish for a professional aesthetic. The delivered boards fully meet my expectations — I received beautiful four-layer boards with rounded corners, exactly as designed. There are no rough edges from the panel separation process and no scratches.

Matte black finish

One thing to consider with a matte black finish is that the boards must be handled with clean fingers to avoid visible fingerprints. Additionally, the working environment should be kept clean, which is always required in serious development.

Of course, the most important aspect of any PCB is the circuit design, but visual appearance also plays a high-priority role. My finely detailed logo, placed as part of the copper layer without solder mask, along with very small descriptive text (1.3mm in size) also etched into the copper layer, is clear and well-defined.

I typically prefer 1.1mm text on the silkscreen layer, and in this case, it is perfectly sharp and readable.

My prototype PCB features numerous vias with a 0.3mm diameter, and surprisingly, they are barely noticeable, which is a great advantage for my design.

The surface finish

The manufacturing quality is excellent, and the PCB’s overall precision exceeded my expectations. The surface finish is smooth, and the traces are uniform, with no visible defects or inconsistencies. Even under magnification, the intricate details of my design remain sharp and well-defined.

In addition, the stencil provided alongside the PCB is also of high quality. The cutouts are clean, ensuring precise solder paste application. This will significantly streamline the assembly process and help achieve consistent solder joints.

Furthermore, I appreciate the overall attention to detail that PCBWay has put into both the PCB and stencil. The precision of the cutouts, the clarity of the silkscreen, and the overall robustness of the design all contribute to a highly professional product.

Overall, this experience with PCBWay has been very positive. I will certainly consider using them again for future projects, as the combination of quality, speed, and reliability has made a strong impression. The ability to receive such well-manufactured boards quickly and with excellent accuracy is invaluable in prototyping and development.