Meters on power amps

stuwee
stuwee Posts: 1,508
edited July 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
I like meters, I really like meters! I know there are lot's of high-end manufacters that don't have any on theirs (SimAudio, Chord to name a few). I've always wondered why not? Is it a 'keep the signal path pure and short' thing? I found a way cool vintage Olsen VU set a couple years back (it was also marketed as a Lafayette). Very nice retro slim needles, fast rise/decay, with calibrate dial for accuracy.

All my power amps have meters of some sort, so when I recently demo'd a X-Amp in the system, I dug it out and hooked it up, great fun :biggrin: old and new together! Sorry about my lousy camera pic :redface:. That little D-chip X-Amp was a hoot, I could pick it up with my index finger and thumb and it was a wonderful match with the Martin Logan's :smile:. It had an amazing grip on the stat panels, made deep, rich bass from the dynamic woofers, big air flyin' out of the ports :cool:. Even at only 70wpc @8ohms for the stereo version I was hooked on the sound, but no meters...

I'm getting the 150w mono bloc's soon to replace the big Yamaha. There'll be a flat screen TV on that stand soon as well, and I'd like to have each mono on either side of the stand near the ML's (just out of view in the pic) since I like my speaker cables as short as possible. I'd love to find some Marantz or SAE meters to hook up to the amps for :biggrin:'s and giggles. Is this an easy thing to do, like that Olsen is? Has anyone here done anything like that? Thanks!


X-Amp001.jpg
Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • cubdog
    cubdog Posts: 835
    edited July 2011
    What purpose do they really serve? Unless you listen to music sitting in front of your amp I'm not sure.

    cubdog
    Shuguang Classic S8MK
    Emotiva XDA-2
    Bel Canto M300 mono blocks
    Bel Canto DAC 1.5
    Squeezebox Touch
    Sony SS-M7
    A/D/S L710
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  • Outfitter03
    Outfitter03 Posts: 563
    edited July 2011
    Some guys like to measure everything!!!:eek:
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited July 2011
    They're just nice for breaking the monotony of a solid faceplate, IMO:smile:
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited July 2011
    gdb wrote: »
    They're just nice for breaking the monotony of a solid faceplate, IMO:smile:

    Yep!! :biggrin:, kinda like when car's had idiot lights on the dash instead of gauges :frown:, show me what's happen'n!!!!!

    so no one does this with non-meter amps?
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited July 2011
    I knew a guy who had massive voltmeters in his rig because of supposed power fluctuations + paranoia.:smile:
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  • 20hz
    20hz Posts: 636
    edited July 2011
    I have always like meters but never had any since the old VU meters 20 years ago , my latest the crowns just had a signal sense , I just got 2 kenwood km-208's to drive my subs those have meters I was thinking about changing the bulbs to blue .
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited July 2011
    Do you WANT it to look like Emotiva ?? Just curious.:smile:
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  • 20hz
    20hz Posts: 636
    edited July 2011
    gdb wrote: »
    I knew a guy who had massive voltmeters in his rig because of supposed power fluctuations + paranoia.:smile:

    My panamax 1500 has blue led meters , I rarely watch them because the panamax shuts down at below 90 or above 130 volts , but I did notice that when my neighbor ( I am in a duplex ) runs his vacuum cleaner it will drop below 90 volts . And PG&E ran a test said its fine , yes it sucks but I cant do anything .
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited July 2011
    You could get one of these.:
    http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/p600-power-plant-regenerator
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited July 2011
    I hear ya! I love my M504 with big meters.

    3794950670_5ceb96c612.jpg
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited July 2011
    halo71 wrote: »
    I hear ya! I love my M504 with big meters.

    3794950670_5ceb96c612.jpg

    Now That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!! :biggrin: I need to find a broken one of those and source those meters! Big swinging VU's :smile:
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • HRDROKN
    HRDROKN Posts: 39
    edited July 2011
    Meters are cool! The bigger the better IMO.

    :biggrin:
    HRDROKN
    Klipsch KLF-30's, biamped, Carver M1.0t MKII .002 on the LF, Carver TFM-35x .002 on the HF, Marchand XM44, BBE2002R, Carver SDA-360. Carver Silver 7t's in the works....
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    20hz wrote: »
    I have always like meters but never had any since the old VU meters 20 years ago , my latest the crowns just had a signal sense , I just got 2 kenwood km-208's to drive my subs those have meters I was thinking about changing the bulbs to blue .
    .He may like the Blues..can you dig it..:biggrin:
    Testing
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    Outfitter03 wrote: »
    Some guys like to measure everything!!!:eek:
    ..Nice..lol..
    Testing
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    stuwee wrote: »
    Now That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!! :biggrin: I need to find a broken one of those and source those meters! Big swinging VU's :smile:
    ..Yeah it is nice..Remind's me of the old days..
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited July 2011
    I always thought the VU meters where there to let you know when your amps going to blow up that way you know when to dive outa the armchair ?
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    I always thought the VU meters where there to let you know when your amps going to blow up that way you know when to dive outa the armchair ?
    ...Lol...
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    upa1_inside2.jpg...:biggrin:
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited July 2011
    ^ Damn, the case is about empty. lol :biggrin::tongue:
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited July 2011
    stuwee wrote: »
    Now That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!! :biggrin: I need to find a broken one of those and source those meters! Big swinging VU's :smile:

    How much are the Onkyo's worth? Found one locally here:

    http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ele/2485606986.html

    He's asking $600
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • 20hz
    20hz Posts: 636
    edited July 2011
    dpowell wrote: »
    How much are the Onkyo's worth? Found one locally here:

    http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ele/2485606986.html

    He's asking $600

    low end price 250 , but most folks have them in mint condition thes the $600
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited July 2011
    but that bkue glow ofthe MCintoshs',I don't know any one that does not like them. Eye candy for shure but it tastes so good
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited July 2011
    Sorry I spelt McIntosh wrong.There is another thought here on the negative side,something else to go bad .like electric windows, stuck elervators and all kinds of things we would want but really do not need.
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,179
    edited July 2011
    A VU meter is often included in audio equipment to display a signal level in Volume Units; the device is sometimes also called volume indicator (VI).


    An analog VU meter with peak LED
    Another miniature magnetoelectric VU meter
    The response of a VU meter (black line) compared to instantaneous input level (grey area) of a drum beat. Level is in dB and time is in secondsIt is intentionally a "slow" measurement, averaging out peaks and troughs of short duration to reflect the perceived loudness of the material. It was originally developed in 1939 by the combined effort of Bell Labs and broadcasters CBS and NBC for measuring and standardizing the levels of telephone lines.

    The typical VU scale is from −20 to +3. The rise and fall times of the meter are both 300 milliseconds, meaning that if a constant sine wave of amplitude 0 VU is applied suddenly, the meter will take 300 milliseconds to reach the 0 on the scale. It behaves as a full-wave averaging instrument, and is not optimal for measuring peak levels.

    They may be cool to look at in the dark, but really don't tell you anything at all. Me, I could do without these types of meters, analog or digital (flourescent)

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    :tongue:
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,179
    edited July 2011
    What are you attaching pics of Emotiva amps???? I don't get it.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,777
    edited July 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    What are you attaching pics of Emotiva amps???? I don't get it.

    They have bright blue led meters if I recall. I'd have to snip the wires, I hate blinking lights when listening to music, especially bright blue. very distracting.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,179
    edited July 2011
    Except the pics he's posted have no meter's.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2011
    @heiney9...was just playin around..Much respect at you Sir..your post are a good read..i was bored..my bad..
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited July 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    I like meter maids.

    ff04c7b824.jpg

    She can watch my meters anytime Mike.:smile:
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
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