ANALOG VU METERS... any options ?

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pw8888

Well-known member
Joined
May 13, 2010
Messages
49
HI Guys  ;D
I need some tips and advice from you about some analog Vu meter.
I am building a line amp and I am looking for a nice pair of nice vu …
I did look into ebay / china / and some other site … without finding NOTHING .

I find the Sifam a little bit expensive for what is it … and the “retro looking one are “ugly”(my taste).(AL15 etc ..)
without saying that everybody use them ... and if I could get something a little bit different ...
Would you have another brand as an advice ?
Big sifam’s are “a little bit better” but too big for my project (in size) .
What I have available is twice something like 50 x 40mm as a space to fit them .
Thanks for the advice and eventually links I didn’t see… ::) ::)
 
I just got a pair of Nissei meters from eBay (made in China).

They're pretty nice! I like them well enough, and they do what I need them to do. 12V incandescent lamp illumination.

My only gripe is that I'm not totally enamored of the peachy-yellow-white color of the background (would've much preferred white). But once the lamps are on it looks "very okay."

I think I got a pair that shipped from New Jersey, with lamps already installed and complete with bezels, for 33 bucks.
 
Real VU meters are not cheap.  If you only need some dancing needles, most of the cheap ones will do the job.
 
warpie said:
Real VU meters are not cheap.

"Real" VU meters (i.e., ones that completely meet ANSI standards) are not only not cheap, but rather rare

But as several people said in a conversation on this topic recently, VU meters on something like a compressor are typically more useful for a sort of loose visual reference; an abstract bit of visual feedback that signal is passing, or that gain reduction is occurring, and with some relative sense of degree.

But as someone said in a conversation on this topic recently, if that's the desired application, the Sifam and Nissei meters are probably fine for most things.
 
thanks will check !
my problem was more on the "design" and "look" more than accuracy.

At the end of the day... yes what I need is a "dancing" needle... :)

will check the one one ebay ...
 
pw8888 said:
Would you have another brand as an advice ?

This ones look pretty cool

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yes I saw them... too big for the equipment I want to build ...
need the same one but smaller :)

 
If accuracy is really not an absolute must, you could buy almost any meter of the needed amperage, correct size, and desired look -- and then (photo-)print your own vu scale (including your own logo and the like) for insertion. Nice DIY feel as well.
 
pw8888 said:
yes I saw them... too big for the equipment I want to build ...
need the same one but smaller :)

Here are the offerings from Nissei... quite a few options!

http://www.meterexpert.com/e/VU.htm

You could always choose your favorite two or three part numbers/models and search eBay to see if any are for sale
 
these are 35mm x 35mm and used in the DON Classics 1176 clone, they look nice and do what they are supposed to do:

https://www.hairballaudio.com/catalog/parts-store/panel-meters/8035-vu-meter#tab-51

plus they fit in a round hole so easier to punch.

ok!
T.

 
mutterd said:
these are 35mm x 35mm and used in the DON Classics 1176 clone, they look nice and do what they are supposed to do:

https://www.hairballaudio.com/catalog/parts-store/panel-meters/8035-vu-meter#tab-51

plus they fit in a round hole so easier to punch.

ok!
T.

yes those are the ones, thank you so much for the link.

Are they really made by Behringer?
If not I dont know where the Behringer association comes from
 
I'm not sure where Hairball sources their meters, or whether they may have special requirements and have the meters made to their specs.

I will say that the Hairball 8037 is dimensionally identical to the Nissei TN-73 on the datasheets.

 
soapfoot said:
Here are the offerings from Nissei... quite a few options!

http://www.meterexpert.com/e/VU.htm

You could always choose your favorite two or three part numbers/models and search eBay to see if any are for sale

So many options there, I think that covers all the needs and preferences
 
soapfoot said:
Here are the offerings from Nissei... quite a few options!

http://www.meterexpert.com/e/VU.htm

You could always choose your favorite two or three part numbers/models and search eBay to see if any are for sale

Thanks soapfoot!
I should be covered :)
P
 
Hoyt is a long time manufacturer/supplier in the USA,,,,

Dunno if these are still USA made or now imports:

https://www.hoytmeter.com/analog-panel-meters/vu-meters.html

Bri
 
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