Found a Tube tuner today

faster100

I found a Midland tube tuner today... was dirty and paid a buck for it , cleaned it up... cleaned the tuning coil and controls... works great!! Looks really cool.. however its MONo, anyway you can make it sound stereo? I am useing a Y adapter now and it sounds really good and improved the bass it seems to me.. is this possible? small, nothing fantastic, no magic knobs but works and that is cool for $1 dollar.. i want to paint the cover is all.. looks like some surface rust inder the paint coming through.. chasis is clean and all NEC tubes original.. don't know if they are worth anything, dont care as i will most likely keep it to play with for awhile.. will post pics shortly

faster100

also, what is a MPX output? it has one..

RuSsMaN

What the hell, I'm in a good mood.

The MPX out is the 'Multiplexer' output. If you run a cable from it, to a Multiplexer (get a tube one if you can find it), the MPX will decode the signal into stereo, and have 2 RCA outputs.

Worth, not much really monetarily, even the tubes - there are TONS of tuner tubes available, NOS, from almost any manufacturer. Worth, as far as cool factor goes, off the charts imo.

Find a mono tube integrated (10-20w), and a single corner-horn speaker, and have a REAL vintage rig.

Cheers,
Russ

madmax

Can you buy just any multiplexer and plug it into that jack? So what happens, do you get left and right output out of the multiplexer box and then run that to an amp?
madmax

faster100

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
What the hell, I'm in a good mood.

Cheers,
Russ

FWIW i appreciate it... Thanks..

It sounds really good.. for what it is

gregit

Russ and f100???....It's a Christmas miracle!!!

mhardy6647

Actually, the FM stereo signal is already multiplexed... you need a MULTIPLEX DECODER :-) sometimes known as a stereo adaptor. And, yes, you use the MPX output of your tuner to connect the adaptor. The adaptor then provides the L and R stereo output line level signals for your amp/preamp/whatever.

Yes, they are basically generic. I am partial to the EICO MX-99, but then I am generally partial to EICO stuff. The MX-99's tend to be pricey on eBAY, FWIW. There's a Heathkit model that's relatively plentiful (I got one for $5).

Performance of ALL tuners (old and new, good and bad, cheap and expensive) is better in mono than stereo. Especially if you are in a fringe area, you're likely to be just as happy listening in mono IMO.

If you're interested in the technology of compatible MPX stereo FM, here's a link with some info:

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/RadCom/part21/page1.html

BlueMDPicker

Originally posted by gregit
Russ and f100???....It's a Christmas miracle!!!

God bless us, one and all... limp ....limp

faster100

transformer **** on me tonight, oh well... the burnt smell is still giving me a head ache

RuSsMaN

Oh man, you let the smoke out. That's a no-no.

Probably, like most vintage tube gear that has sat a while, could have used a Variac. You should invest in one, they aren't terribly expensive.

I will say it's strange that you had it at full power (turn on, plugged into the wall) and listened for some time without a problem. Usually, if caps or xformers blow, it's as soon as B+ hits.

Hey, it will still LOOK cool sitting on the mantle or some such.

Cheers,
Russ

faster100

i used it from around noon till 4:00 then again for awhile then it just stopped playing music, i smelled it.... starting pulling plugs.. plugged it back in in the kitchen, everything lit up.. tubes, light bulb... then alittle smoke.. turned it over and it looked like it was coming from the paper under the transformer... turned it off and placed it outside to cool off and air out.. the metal top on the transformer was very hot.. Its still not dead... i think its on its way though... I think i'll just scab the tubes, and display it. i would like to try a dynaco fm tuner though now... i liked the sound of this one today. Glad it was only a buck lost. i would change the xformer but most likely not worth it or available parts...