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I would like to add a pleasing visual element to my solid state pre/power amplifier combination that I am very satisfied with the sound of.
Ideally I would like to add a standalone device consisting of Magic Eye Tube Vu Meters (using one or more Magic Eyes per channel)
Were such devices ever produced by a "hifi company"? Or, even made to order?
Many thanks in advance for any pointers
Follow Ups:
I am super late to this party, but when I read your topic, I kept thinking, I have seen that before. Well, I finally found the schematic on my drive. I am attaching it to this post.
This is not my schematic, but one I found, probably in 2005 looking for the same thing you were.
Typical VU meters use a dB scale - similar to how a volume pot is not linear, but is logarithmic in how its rotation changes its resistance.However a typical magic eye valve varies its display over a linear range of incoming dc signal level. That operation was very useful for radio station tuning (where it was a premium option), and some instrument indicators.
A magic eye valve needs a high voltage DC supply, and a heater supply - so unless you are retrofitting to an existing valve amplifier that has those power supply rails handy, then the retrofit needs either a mains supply transformer and B+ power rail, or a plug-pack and some dc/dc converters. Plus the signal would need to go through an rms to dc converter, and then a linear to log converter (ie. both modern day specialist ICs) to try and mimic a VU display - so its likely that any commercial or DIY VU product using magic eye valves is 'cutting corners' somewhere.
Edits: 07/27/20 07/27/20 07/27/20
Instead of the round "Magic Eye" tubes, I prefer the 6FG6 / EM84 which has a rectangular bar-graph display. It can me mounted horizontal or vertical.
did I get that right? My Dad had a Wollensack RTR with some kind of 'level indicator' 1/2 of it was an overload indicator.
*"Bass is the place! The rest is filigree and lace" Doug Sax
I think that's right - I vaguely remember a Wollensack tape recorder in my parents' basement that had one - it was circular, if I remember right. If the two parts met, you were overloading the tape. My father's Pilot tuner had one that had sort of a vertical fan appearance, and you tuned to get the two sides as close together as possible.
Lots more information on Magic Eye tubes in the link below (posted in case someone else hasn't already linked to it - I haven't read all the replies).
i remember the early webcor recorders using it and the early Dynaco tuners using it for a tuning meter. many swear by them.
...regards...tr
I could not stand a magic eye constantly moving. I'm not even fond of V.U. meters.
Edits: 07/17/20
However, the tubes that I've seen were used in radios for tuning back in the 30s and 40s.
-Rod
Not quite Vu meters, but "magic eyes" were used as level indicators on tape recording devices.
Eli D.
View YouTube Video
Later Gator,
Dave
Especially when it would be added to a component for nothing but visual effect. Hell, I don't even like bright LEDs. I've been known to snip an anode or two (if I'm feeling lazy) or add a resistor to dim them.
I like my listening room the way I like my coffee and my humor. Dark.
Don't you mean tuners? I loved my Fisher 400 and never should have sold it
*Meters!
Receiving equipment is (IMO) self evident, but even in stereo times, indicator tubes were used in tape equipment. I had a Webcor stereo machine so configured.
Eli D.
I have a Heathkit tape recorder I built in 1964 that uses two Magic eye vu meters.
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