NEOHIPO ET30 VU Meter Speaker Switcher Review

[GPJ]

Ah cool and yes there is quite a bit of good and bad that must be considered with a potential redesign. I am completely happy with my .... I'll call it V1 .... lol.

I do like the white table to give the truer blue look (as well as other colors as well I'm sure) ...... but the available colors are quite good.

Looking forward to your continued success ... I'm just a fan and in it for the fun!

To add, I think users would be very happy with accurate geometry of the needle to the gauge indicators. That's one thing I loved about high quality VU meters of the past was the precise alignment of the needle to the gauge marks across the entire range of throw.

The above pics of the new white VU table on the right has great blue color but the marks look misaligned giving it a cheaper look (please take that as constructive criticism

 

[Crazycatman]

Here's the finished product complete with laser cut faceplate and Sansui emblem to match my AU555 and TU666. Love the green with the TU666!

 

[Sal1950]

Here's the finished product complete with laser cut faceplate and Sansui emblem to match my AU555 and TU666. Love the green with the TU666!

I love it, the lights color matched the tuner.
Very good job, looks 100% factory new.

 

[GPJ]

Here's the finished product complete with laser cut faceplate and Sansui emblem to match my AU555 and TU666. Love the green with the TU666!
View attachment 369963
View attachment 369964

Looks like time for a Topping E70V with transparent green film (or glass) over the over the display. The standard white font color should pop the green rather nicely. IMO of course.

 

[NEOHIPO]

Ah cool and yes there is quite a bit of good and bad that must be considered with a potential redesign. I am completely happy with my .... I'll call it V1 .... lol.

I do like the white table to give the truer blue look (as well as other colors as well I'm sure) ...... but the available colors are quite good.

Looking forward to your continued success ... I'm just a fan and in it for the fun!

To add, I think users would be very happy with accurate geometry of the needle to the gauge indicators. That's one thing I loved about high quality VU meters of the past was the precise alignment of the needle to the gauge marks across the entire range of throw.

The above pics of the new white VU table on the right has great blue color but the marks look misaligned giving it a cheaper look (please take that as constructive criticism

Oh, yes, that's very good. I'm glad you pointed out this issue and welcome everyone to share their suggestions.

 

[TJet54]

Will this ET30 power up If connected to the amp's switched outlet, or do you have to press the on/off button every time power is interrupted?

 

[NEOHIPO]

Hello, ET30 is powered on by default. No need to press the power button again to turn on the device.

 

[rebos123]

It's a shame the switching part wasn't tested. It's particularly important whether it treats the -ve as common or whether all terminals are switched. Common -ve will cause problems with bridged amps like the A07.

It treats -ve as common. Bridged amps will not work with this unit. If anyone has a suggestion as to how to modify it I would love to hear!

 

[mad_matt]

It treats -ve as common. Bridged amps will not work with this unit. If anyone has a suggestion as to how to modify it I would love to hear!

I've been running a bridged NAD 2100 amps through the ET30 since it came out, and it seems to work just fine. I'm probably too dumb to understand why I shouldn't be doing this, but I thought I would share.

 

[rebos123]

Hmm. Well I am using Fosi V3 mono amps and they go into protection mode as soon as I hook them up to the ET30.

 

[iLoveCats]

Hmm. Well I am using Fosi V3 mono amps and they go into protection mode as soon as I hook them up to the ET30.

I am using V3 monos too but I am hooked up to the speaker outputs of the ET30 instead of the amp. And the speakers are hooked to the amp input. It's actually by mistake but I just left it. Works fine

 

[rebos123]

Wow! I will give it a try. Thanks.

 

[rebos123]

Just wanted to report to anyone having issues with the ET30 and bridged amps. Per @iLoveCats, hooking up the amps to the speaker outputs and the speakers to the amp inputs allows you to use the ET30 without causing your bridged amps to go into protection mode (or blow a fuse). Many thanks!!

 

[NOMAD1944]

Can it be used with 8 ohm speakers? Or is it possible to use it but cause problems with the speakers or amplifier?

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

Can it be used with 8 ohm speakers? Or is it possible to use it but cause problems with the speakers or amplifier?

It is just a switcher, it is doesnt matter with the impedance of speakers.

 

[NOMAD1944]

It is just a switcher, it is doesnt matter with the impedance of speakers.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[Redver]

I bought one from AliExpress and it’s great very happy with this purchase thanks for the review Amir.

 

[mikeedanz]

Just received mine, it's beautifully made and I love the retro look. Unfortunately, it's behaving strangely connected to my SMSL DA9 amp. The main issue is that the needles are responsive even when the volume output on the DA9 is set to zero and there is no source material playing. It doesn't make a difference if the volume is at 70 with no source, the needles still flick erratically sometimes halfway across the range. Output from speakers is silence, as expected.

One important thing I did notice is that by muting the amp this behaviour doesn't occur which leads me to think there is some kind of current leakage from the DA9 even when there is no signal being fed to it from the DAC.

The manual suggests this might be due to a poor quality USB PS but I've tried three including a powerbank and the behaviour is the same. Reducing the swing range as an alternative solution improves things but then when playing music the needles are largely unresponsive. Setting Swing Range to the 12 o'clock position and listening to the opening track of DSOTM I would expect increasing deflection with the ever louder heartbeat but this is not the case. Rather than respond to changes in sound intensity the meters seem to have a mind of their own! I've just paused The Great Gig in the Sky on the PC and the needles are still dancing away despite the silence!

Another peculiarity is the Sensitivity dial seems to have no discernible effect whether set to min or max. Hmm.

I'm not using this as a switching device and I've tried using both speaker outputs A and B and Inputs 1 and 2. I've also ensured the MIC is off and I've swapped between M and D modes and even changed out the DA9 for another DA9. Nothing makes any difference.

So either I have a faulty ET30, two faulty or poorly designed DA9s (I hope not) or this piece of kit just doesn't work well with the DA9. I have a hefty Exposure integrated which I may try later if I can be bothered to unhook it all .... but in the meantime does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[NEOHIPO]

Just received mine, it's beautifully made and I love the retro look. Unfortunately, it's behaving strangely connected to my SMSL DA9 amp. The main issue is that the needles are responsive even when the volume output on the DA9 is set to zero and there is no source material playing. It doesn't make a difference if the volume is at 70 with no source, the needles still flick erratically sometimes halfway across the range. Output from speakers is silence, as expected.

One important thing I did notice is that by muting the amp this behaviour doesn't occur which leads me to think there is some kind of current leakage from the DA9 even when there is no signal being fed to it from the DAC.

The manual suggests this might be due to a poor quality USB PS but I've tried three including a powerbank and the behaviour is the same. Reducing the swing range as an alternative solution improves things but then when playing music the needles are largely unresponsive. Setting Swing Range to the 12 o'clock position and listening to the opening track of DSOTM I would expect increasing deflection with the ever louder heartbeat but this is not the case. Rather than respond to changes in sound intensity the meters seem to have a mind of their own! I've just paused The Great Gig in the Sky on the PC and the needles are still dancing away despite the silence!

Another peculiarity is the Sensitivity dial seems to have no discernible effect whether set to min or max. Hmm.

I'm not using this as a switching device and I've tried using both speaker outputs A and B and Inputs 1 and 2. I've also ensured the MIC is off and I've swapped between M and D modes and even changed out the DA9 for another DA9. Nothing makes any difference.

So either I have a faulty ET30, two faulty or poorly designed DA9s (I hope not) or this piece of kit just doesn't work well with the DA9. I have a hefty Exposure integrated which I may try later if I can be bothered to unhook it all .... but in the meantime does anyone have any suggestions?

Hello, I'm very sorry for any inconvenience caused. May I ask where you purchased it from? You can contact our after-sales personnel to see what the problem is, and we will help you solve it as soon as possible.

 

[mikeedanz]

Thanks. I purchased from Amazon UK site.