Douk Audio VU2PRO Needs Your Opinions!--The Upgraded Version of Douk Audio VU2.

[olieb]

Well they might as well put RGB LEDs under plastic lenses to light up the roof in time to the music too.

If the LED lighting is appropriate it could serve as a replacement for other kinds of fake fireplaces.

 

[GXAlan]

I like the mic option for no-impact, no-wiring visualization fun.

For no wiring visualization fun, are the fake VU meters better than this?

https://a.co/d/7fnQPUd

 

[amirm]

For no wiring visualization fun, are the fake VU meters better than this?

https://a.co/d/7fnQPUd

Hey, that is neat too!

 

[amirm]

I like a giant, 6 foot version of that!

 

[GXAlan]

I like a giant, 6 foot version of that!

The McIntosh is MPM4000 is wiring required visualization fun. If it’s “no impact,” I bet it would be the reference that Douk Audio could copy.

Due to the rarity of the MPM4000, they sell for $500-600 on eBay for pure visualization fun…

 

[Rick Sykora]

Prefer option A with blue meters.

 

[dualazmak]

I assume and hope you are aware of my DIY IEC 60268-17 compatible 12-VU-Meter Array (ref. here #535 and #545 on my project thread).

I also shared dancing video of my IEC 60268-17 compatible large glass-face DIY 12-VU-Meter Array;
_____Part-1: with "High Frequency Linearity Check Track" of Sony Super Audio Check CD: #750
_____Part-2: with typical "Full Orchestra Music"-1: #751
_____Part-3: with typical "Full Orchestra Music"-2: #752
_____Part-4: with typical "Jazz Piano Trio Music": #753

Here, let me copy-paste (from my post here) my (our) recent requests/demands for possible new IEC 60268-17 compatible VU Meter "Module"; I hope the diagrams bellow are self-explanatory for your understanding and intensive consideration.

 

[dualazmak]

In your Option-A, the layout of XLR plugs are very much confusing!
Male XLR should always output signals, female XLR should always receive signals (ref. here).

Spoiler

When I went into audio enjoyment hobby world in my young era, my audio-advisory guy, who was in pro-audio world, taught me in non-elegant wordings; "You need to remember in this way. Male XLR should only output/ejaculate signals, Female XLR should only accept the signals, in any setup of audio gears."

They should be, therefore, in this layout, right?

 

[dualazmak]

And, let me again copy-paste IEC 60268-17 VU Meter Specification, especially the ballistic behavior specs.

Specifications for IEC 60268-17 compatible VU meters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VU_meter#Reference_level

 

[dualazmak]

Since product name of your new VU meter contains "PRO" in it, I assume and hope you are serious this time for specifications (IEC 60268-17 compatible), robustness and repair/maintenance services for your new product!

In this perspective, the pro-use VU Meters/Monitors manufactured by YAMAKI Electric Co., Ltd. would be of your nice reference, I believe.
https://www.yamaki-ec.co.jp/
https://www.yamaki-ec.co.jp/product_cat/vu-meter/
https://www.yamaki-ec.co.jp/product_cat/vu-monitor/
They also accept "Entrusted Design and Manufacturing" (maybe including OEM manufacturing too?) as well as "Technical Supports in Design and Manufacturing" as we can find here;
https://www.yamaki-ec.co.jp/service/

I actually saw several times some broadcasting studios and recording studios are using Yamaki's VU monitors, like the TV screen capture (sorry for the low quality image) I shared here.

 

[dualazmak]

Now, let me share my dream of IEC 60287-17 compatible "all-I/O-in-One" stereo VU-Meter Module which should be vertically and horizontally connectable.
Edit: Please visit my post #40 below for the revised version/concept.

 

[EJ3]

Right, but then you'd (or at least I'd) ideally want 0dB to be rated a similar power to your amp. If it showed 50W at 0dB that might suite amplification from 25 to 100W. But if your amp were rated 300W you'd want a different scale. And vice versa. This is (presumably) what you'd get on the VU meters on an old school amp.

And personally I'd either want the scale to match my amp power (with my speaker impedance) precisely. Or I'd want 0dB to represent my maximum listening level, whatever power that happened to be. I'd be much happier with the meter just showing DB, so I can set the reference level as anything I like.

The meters on the old amps, receivers & whatnot only had to worry about reading the device they were mounted on.
They have no idea who is going to mount these on what. Making them so that they can meter damn near any amp seems like it would be quite expensive.
So I am happy to have swinging needles that don't cost an arm & a leg.
That way, when my friends ask me what the meters do, I'll just tell them that it's an "ancient audiophile secret and they haven't told me yet!"

 

[EJ3]

Now, let me share my dream of IEC 60287-17 compatible "all-I/O-in-One" stereo VU-Meter Module which should be vertically and horizontally connectable.
View attachment 403828

View attachment 403829

For my main system I only need 2 but could need 3 & then one each for my other 2 systems.
The price would certainly be a god bit higher but well worth it, I think.

 

[JSmith]

preference for a calibrated meter.

proper calibrated power meters

Yes, please @Douk Audio make a proper calibrated meter than can be actually useful, rather than just eye candy.


JSmith

 

[solderdude]

The question is .... calibrated to what ?
0dB = 0dBV ? 0dBU ? 2V ? 4V ? or another arbitrary voltage for 0dB as 2V nor 4V are not official standards either.
for digital it could be easy ... 0dB = 0dBFS but the meter then would never go beyond 0dB and you still would have no idea what voltage comes out of the connected DAC.
The mic inside for sure can't be calibrated, just look at the ranges needed for a simple SPL meter....
Then the question remains if peak/average/VU meter response can be selected and works to proper specs.

A real measurement device would be great but this won't be it. It is for people that like to see needles swing. eyecandy..

But I would second the request for a real calibrated meter that could be used in studios and at home with selectable 'behavior' and calibrated voltage ranges.

 

[dualazmak]

Then the question remains if peak/average/VU meter response can be selected and works to proper specs.

My YAMAHA A-S3000 has excellent and beautiful meter for VU and Peak-Power mode selector; the VU scale is -55 dB to +3 dB, and the PP scale is 0.0005(?) to 150 (W/8Ω?).

I will soon incorporate these features, as well as HDMI I/O and triggered power-on in my dream Stereo Meter Module (ref. #31 above).

 

[EJ3]

My YAMAHA A-S3000 has excellent and beautiful meter for VU and Peak-Power mode selector; the VU scale is -55 dB to +3 dB, and the PP scale is 0.0005(?) to 150 (W/8Ω?).
View attachment 403864

I will soon incorporate these features, as well as HDMI I/O and triggered power-on in my dream Stereo Meter Module (ref. #31 above).

But: IF the meter has to be able to deal with the variable of multitudes of different powered amps? Can that be done (that the meter can be calibrated to each one by the customer)? And. IF so, at what expense?

 

[EJ3]

The question is .... calibrated to what ?
0dB = 0dBV ? 0dBU ? 2V ? 4V ? or another arbitrary voltage for 0dB as 2V nor 4V are not official standards either.
for digital it could be easy ... 0dB = 0dBFS but the meter then would never go beyond 0dB and you still would have no idea what voltage comes out of the connected DAC.
The mic inside for sure can't be calibrated, just look at the ranges needed for a simple SPL meter....
Then the question remains if peak/average/VU meter response can be selected and works to proper specs.

A real measurement device would be great but this won't be it. It is for people that like to see needles swing. eyecandy..

But I would second the request for a real calibrated meter that could be used in studios and at home with selectable 'behavior' and calibrated voltage ranges.

I'm fairly social (just not often). Eye Candy works (if it's not expensive). But the real deal would be much better (and more expensive).
Hopefully not TOO expensive.
As long as you know what it is calibrated to, it should be useful.
It's even useful if it's not calibrated: you know that it is eye candy and use it for that (or, knowing that, just don't get one if you don't want just eye candy).
Therefore: it was useful in helping make the decision to have or not to have this particular one.

 

[dualazmak]

But: IF the meter has to be able to deal with the variable of multitudes of different powered amps? Can that be done (that the meter can be calibrated to each one by the customer)? And. IF so, at what expense?

OK, now I well understand your point.

I should not say "Peak-Power Mode", but I should say "Rapid Relative-to-Peak (RP) Meter Mode" "Log-Compression Peak Level Mode" in which the ballistic behavior of the needle would be much more rapid raise/down compared to the "IEC 60268-17 Compatible VU Meter Mode".

Just like in my IEC 60268-17 compatible 12-VU-Meter Array, I have no interest in absolute calibration of the Meter; I would like to have two modes of ballistic behavior, one is compatible with IEC 60268-17, the other is rapid/sensitive log-compression peak-level mode just like the meters of my ACCUPHSE E-460.

In case if we need quasi-calibration as Peak-Power meter, I believe the possible quasi-cross-calibration should be user's responsibility in this type of general-purpose VU/PK meters.

Spoiler: Ballistic Behavior Specifications for IEC 60268-17 compatible VU meters

Specifications for IEC 60268-17 compatible VU meters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VU_meter#Reference_level

I am just updating my dream IEC 60268-17 compatible "all-I/O-in-One" stereo VU-Meter Module accordingly.

 

[dualazmak]

I have just updated my dream IEC 60268-17 (VU) compatible "All-I/O-in-One" stereo VU/PK Meter Module;
The "PK (Peak) Mode" represents rapid "Relative to Peak" behavior of the needle which is sometimes called as "Log-Compression Peak Level Mode".