TS 808 clone can't reach unity gain

[bwanasonic]

I've heard that phrase "unity gain" batted around several times, but I'm not sure what it means. I always figured it was max gain for the either the chip or the circuit design, but it's just a guess.

Unity gain= Bypassed and effected volume are approximately equal.

Kerry M

[Dai H.]

might have some cold solder joints, judging by the pic of the underside of the board. Try re-flowing anything that looks suspect (I would probably take the chip out too, if you're re-doing any of the chip pins).  A smaller gauge of solder may be easier to control. If you need practice, try finding some junk piece of PCB and practice soldering and de-soldering using solder-wick so you get the hang of it. The joint should meld and leave a nice little kiss chocolate sort of shape.  Wash hands before touching the components and if you suspect any oxidation (which can hinder the making of a good joint), try wiping the lead clean with alcohol using a q-tip. A soldering iron with a small tip should be easier to use also on a small PCB (compared to an amp, say).