Pretty dang KOOL!
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VU Meters: Let's See 'Em!!
- Thread starter dallasjustice
- Start date
This power meter is a small web app running on a Raspberry Pi with a 7" screen. The data is sourced from CamillaDSP API, which I use as the crossover for my 2.2 audio system. One thing that really surprised me was how little power the amplifier needs to provide for the speakers to reach a comfortable listening volume.
I’m using the Fosi V3 Mono amps, and during a test with a 1kHz -20dB pulse, I measured 5.78V at the 8-ohm speaker terminals. That's 4.2W by my calculations, which was rather loud. I use this to align the decibel and watt scales.
The meter itself is a React component which ChatGPT o1-preview wrote after a couple of prompts. We are getting to the point where software development will be mostly asking the computer to do things, instead of telling it how to do it.
I’m using the Fosi V3 Mono amps, and during a test with a 1kHz -20dB pulse, I measured 5.78V at the 8-ohm speaker terminals. That's 4.2W by my calculations, which was rather loud. I use this to align the decibel and watt scales.
The meter itself is a React component which ChatGPT o1-preview wrote after a couple of prompts. We are getting to the point where software development will be mostly asking the computer to do things, instead of telling it how to do it.
Hello VU-meter enthusiast friends,
Today I shared six new dancing video clips of my DIY-built 12-VU-Meter Array (IEC60268-17 compatible) together with all the on-screen Peak Meters of audio software tools while playing reference/sampler music tracks by JRiver MC, ADOBE Audition 3.0.1 and MusicScope 2.1.0;
New video clips of dancing 12-VU-Meter Array (IEC60268-17 compatible) together with all the on-screen Peak Meters of audio software tools while playing reference/sampler music tracks by JRiver MC, ADOBE Audition 3.0.1 and MusicScope 2.1.0:
____Part-1: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for high-Fq (treble) transient music sound
post #974 on my project thread
____Part-2: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for mainly checking and tuning of low Fq (bass) transient music sound as well as total tonality Fq-SPL balance all over 15 Hz to 22 kHz
post #975 on my project thread
Today I shared six new dancing video clips of my DIY-built 12-VU-Meter Array (IEC60268-17 compatible) together with all the on-screen Peak Meters of audio software tools while playing reference/sampler music tracks by JRiver MC, ADOBE Audition 3.0.1 and MusicScope 2.1.0;
New video clips of dancing 12-VU-Meter Array (IEC60268-17 compatible) together with all the on-screen Peak Meters of audio software tools while playing reference/sampler music tracks by JRiver MC, ADOBE Audition 3.0.1 and MusicScope 2.1.0:
____Part-1: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for high-Fq (treble) transient music sound
post #974 on my project thread
____Part-2: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for mainly checking and tuning of low Fq (bass) transient music sound as well as total tonality Fq-SPL balance all over 15 Hz to 22 kHz
post #975 on my project thread
Last edited:
ButtonPuncher
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I love my Dorrough 280-E. Has a 60dB range and a digital input. Lets me see if any source is live or almost any file has SOMETHING on it.
It's fun to watch. On some CD's/files, it flashes angry red 0dBfs LEDs at the end of the scale.
It's fun to watch. On some CD's/files, it flashes angry red 0dBfs LEDs at the end of the scale.
Ralph_Cramden
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Saponetto
Senior Member
OT: I am not fond of LEDs at all, but utterly love the LD MkII
bothu
Active Member
A little of topic .... But ....
This is my old meters that have collected dust for many years. I cleaned them on the outside and connected them to power an a signal.
They both worked directly. No smoke signals.
Brül & Kjaer made in Denmark is quality by defenition.
The 2409 is from 1959
The 2425 is from 1975
You do not need a user manual for the 2425 everything is printed on the box. Well done B & K !
Bo Thuner from Linköping Sweden
This is my old meters that have collected dust for many years. I cleaned them on the outside and connected them to power an a signal.
They both worked directly. No smoke signals.
Brül & Kjaer made in Denmark is quality by defenition.
The 2409 is from 1959
The 2425 is from 1975
You do not need a user manual for the 2425 everything is printed on the box. Well done B & K !
Bo Thuner from Linköping Sweden
That is some quality meterage.
SdeGat
Member
There are four or five variations available on this amplifier as this is a mini computer screen actually.
So not the real thing but still nice to have.
So not the real thing but still nice to have.
HaveMeterWillTravel
Senior Member
That's such a work of art, it should be in the Louvre!
What type of connectors are those? TR phono?
What's the name of this device? Or did u make it?
Ralph_Cramden
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GitHub - retired-guy/WiiM-VU: VU Meter Display for WiiM
VU Meter Display for WiiM. Contribute to retired-guy/WiiM-VU development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
knobtwiddler
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- Nov 19, 2019
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I wonder where Accuphase get the massive meters for their amps from? It would seem that very few firms still make larger meters. Hoyt in the US make them, but they are VU type, not peak (which I presume are used by Accuphase, on account of the 50dB scale).
www.accuphase.com
Accuphase Laboratory, Inc. A-48S
www.accuphase.com
Like McIntosh, the prices charged for their products does allow them to produce their products with theI wonder where Accuphase get the massive meters for their amps from? It would seem that very few firms still make larger meters. Hoyt in the US make them, but they are VU type, not peak (which I presume are used by Accuphase, on account of the 50dB scale).
Accuphase Laboratory, Inc. A-48S
visual design their customers expect.
knobtwiddler
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There are plenty of meter firms in Asia that offer a decent aesthetic standard. The movement, be it 300mS (VU spec) or faster (maybe <5mS for a peak type) is a highly specialist activity in 2025. For VU movements, I know only of 2 firms now (both in US: Simpson and Hoyt). The last Japanese firms are no longer making meters (see earlier in the thread) to my knowledge. The size of the needle in the Accuphase meters suggests that they are not using a generic Asian movement (you need a sizeable movement to shift a needle that size smoothly - which is the case if you check out their amps).
So, either Accuphase know of a dometic supplier that still makes decent movements, or they have their own facility. Considering the video shows them to be a 'screwdriver outfit', i.e. the PCBs are populated at a fabricator and the assemblies bolted together (or serviced - as in old gear) at the factory, I am inclined to discount the idea that they are making their own movement.
So, either Accuphase know of a dometic supplier that still makes decent movements, or they have their own facility. Considering the video shows them to be a 'screwdriver outfit', i.e. the PCBs are populated at a fabricator and the assemblies bolted together (or serviced - as in old gear) at the factory, I am inclined to discount the idea that they are making their own movement.
??? To those of us attracted to the VU metered design I find the Accuphase gear absolutely gorgeous.
I'd love to be able to afford the gear from them, McIntosh, etc, but that's not to be.
I still miss the look of my Phase Linear 700B in my equipment rack.
I (and we) know well that, in Japan, not only Accuphase but also Luxman, Yamaha, Technics (and some other amp building companies) are still using very nice VU/PP meters within their HiFi power/integrated amplifiers. I believe, therefore, they still do have good suppliers of such precision and durable VU/PP meter units in Japan and/or abroad to meet with their custom contracted spec and orders.
For example, Yamaha's upper grade power amps and integrated amps have nice meters which can be switched to VU-mode or PP-mode just like my Yamaha integrated amp A-S3000 (ref. here).
I am sorry, however, I myself (as Japanese citizen) know little about the details of VU/PP-Meter supply chain for Accuphase, Yamaha, Luxman, Technics (SU-R1000, SU-G700M2).
I recently read somewhere in Japanese audio scene that, even in Accuphase, they are now aware of possible future difficulties in keeping/finding proper supply source(s) of PP(VU) meters of their custom order specs, and this is why Accuphase is slowly and gradually shifting from conventional needle type PP meters to LED-array type PP indicators as we can see their recent models A-300, A-80, E-800S, E-700.
For their present and past amplifiers with needle-type PP meters, I believe Accuphase is keeping enough amount/numbers of back-up PP meters for life-time maintenance/repair services (I do hope and believe so since I still love and use my E-460).
I am sorry again that I know little about future plan/direction of VU/PP meters of Yamaha, Luxman, Technics amplifiers.
As I have wrote/shared in my posts several times, for professional audio-visual industry, Yamaki Electric Co., Ltd. is still active in manufacturing and producing VU/PP meters and they also accept "contract design and manufacturing", but I do not know their (secret?) relation(s) with Accuphase, Yamaha, Luxman, Technics, and possible secret contracts with overseas companies;
https://www.yamaki-ec.co.jp/product_cat/pro-audio/
Very much regretfully for me/us, Nishizawa Electric Co., Ltd. has already abandoned production of the very nice large-glass-face VU meter Nishizawa R-65 (W111 mm x H77 mm: glass-face W100 mm x H40 mm) which I fortunately could have utilized in my DIY construction of 12-VU-Meter Array (ref. #535 on my project thread for the details).
