You do great reviews! Very thorough. That item is pretty cool! With lots of features, I'm tempted... But I am currently using the Douk Audio Little Bear and am happy with it for now.
I started of with the Little Bear- actual returned one and got another one a month or so later. They have a low frequency boost at 20hz if I remember correctly- probably less than 1dB, but I did not think something I would be using for a/b'ing should have that and returned it. I wrote a paper on my measurements which I posted to the ASR website. But for most folks, that is not going to be a factor. Thanks for watching and commenting as always!
@vintageaudioreview I believe I watched your review or reporting on the One Little Bear. I believe you mentioned a .4 dB rise at the frequency extremes? I don't remember for sure. When I got the One Little Bear in my system, I tried to hear any issues with the sound, but I did not hear any difference. I, too, had to exchange for another unit due to the meter operation barely moving. The free replacement One Little Bear has been working fine for about 2 years now. I do like the larger size and additional features of your review unit. I would probably purchase it when the time comes. Thanks for your great review!
@@scottbennett3119 I only did a write up for the Douk unit, and I just read it and it actually has 1dB of gain at 20hz. My guess is that it is caused by the transformer they have installed as part of the VU meter circuit. I wrote them and they got back to me and told me to look to see if the unit I had was configured with certain parts indicating a change to fix the problem had been made, and it had, so I returned it to Amazon again. For most folks it is not a big deal, but for what I do, it was unacceptable. I do not think that I've done a video on the switcher that I use now, but did a write up which I also posted on the ASR site. I really like the ET30, but don't have a need for it with my systems, but my buddy Ian does so he has it (trade credit for some piece of gear of his 😃) and really enjoys being able to switch between two amps and two speakers
@vintageaudioreview I said earlier you did either a review or report, as I couldn't remember exactly which it was. Anyway, I went ahead and bought the unit today because of your enthusiastic review today...
Mine looses the left channel while switching amps. When that happens, you have to increase the volume very high to get the channel working again, which is really bad for the speaker. It started doing this about 5 or 6 months after purchase. I currently have it set on just one amp and set up speakers for the TV. Neohipo say they will honor the return, but want a photo of the problem. A photo isn't going to show anything- the VU meter still swings while the channel has dropped. Still working through the problem with them.
I would take a video of what is going on with it using your phone and send it to them. They have been very good with my dealings with them. Sorry to hear that it acted up.
@@vintageaudioreview The video may or may not show the drop in one channel, though. The VU's still both swing. I will try to use the mic input for the meters and see if there's a difference there.After watching your review again, I'll bet that there's a faulty relay.
@@jamcdona W/out a schematic it's hard to say where the vu meters are getting there signal from (before or after the relay). If you are so equipped, you could play back a 1khz or 500hz stereo tone and connect a multimeter that reads basic ac frequency and show that the signal has disappeared
Thanks for the comment. It would show a more accurate dB change when the power levels were less than I think 26w/8ohms, but as you were at a higher power level, say 52w/8ohms, the change was not 3dB- which is what I showed. If I then adjusted the control on the Left "Swing Range" so that it was at 0dB and then went to 104w/8ohms, maybe it would have shown a +3dB change.. but I did not do that, though it would have been another interesting test. Could have also went down to 26w/8ohms again and see if it was -3dB....I appreciate your suggestion.
The last thing the signal path between an amp and speakers need is more switches or relays. The better the system the more it would destroy the sound. And "VU" meters? Outright LIE! "VU" as a meter spec is useless for power amps! Actual VU meters don't measure Peaks which you would want in Power meters, they measure RMS averages with a needle response rise time of 300 ms, way to slow! 0 VU is 1.228 Volts RMS across a 600 ohm resistance. Useless for measuring the voltage 20V - 60V most amps put out to 8 ohms. 100Watts is roughly 28 volts @ 8 ohms.
First, thanks so much for sharing your comments! I Agree with you about the whole VU thing. They are not power meters and do not show watts. But they can be useful to do a quick matching to set the amplifier output levels at say 1khz that would be going into each speaker- easier than hooking up a DMM for most folks. You are obviously technically inclined. I like when your amp gives you a choice of whether you want a peak meter response or average, on a "hold peak for a while" (or LEDs if that is what is used). I would say that up to the current handling capability of the ET30, your sound is pretty much not going to be affected from what the data showed.
@@vintageaudioreview I'm on a mission to correct the misuse of "VU" for what are or should be Power meters. Even back in the day VU was misused with even better display's like Peak Sample and Hold. VU was only used to assure uniform display in the way way back days. But with people willing to spend $10k or more on speaker cables to provide the most direct signal transfer from the amp, all those extra connectors, relays, ...
@@glenncurry3041 I remember reading threads about the mis-use of VU meters on the ASR site, and it was in regard to a device like the ET30. I actually just finished sending an email to Neohipo based on your comments, about making it an actual power meter with a switch to set for 20w or 200w (8ohms) ranges and not have the controls. My guess is that folks who spend $10k for speaker cables have no need for a device like the ET30 as they should have a room dedicated to each of their systems.
@@vintageaudioreview You might check the source names. It might have been me. I've posted a number of times when I see these things. These are mislabeled voltage meters. Ever relabeling them to Watts based on 8 ohms is not technically accurate. True power meters monitor the voltage and current in relevant phases. Like the AC Meter on houses. But yes, likely a dual 4 ohm and 8 ohm set of scales would at least be meaningful.
@@glenncurry3041 The person I emailed the suggestions to thought it was a good idea and passed the suggestion onto the engineering team. I have designed a few LED power meters, which strictly measured the voltage across the load, and were ok for what they are. My 1st attempt at designing one using big blue meters failed and set me back about $200, though I may try another approach at some point in time...I like displays
Oh that unit is tempting. Thanks for showing and measuring. Cheers, Alistair
I appreciate you watching and taking a few moments to comment. If you have the need to switch between two amps and two speakers it is a great choice!
Yes , speaker switching was my use. You know I seem to gather mid range 80s speakers , I need to weed out
@@ragnarhairybreeks If they work and sound good, find a place for them 😁
You do great reviews! Very thorough. That item is pretty cool! With lots of features, I'm tempted... But I am currently using the Douk Audio Little Bear and am happy with it for now.
I started of with the Little Bear- actual returned one and got another one a month or so later. They have a low frequency boost at 20hz if I remember correctly- probably less than 1dB, but I did not think something I would be using for a/b'ing should have that and returned it. I wrote a paper on my measurements which I posted to the ASR website. But for most folks, that is not going to be a factor. Thanks for watching and commenting as always!
@vintageaudioreview I believe I watched your review or reporting on the One Little Bear. I believe you mentioned a .4 dB rise at the frequency extremes? I don't remember for sure. When I got the One Little Bear in my system, I tried to hear any issues with the sound, but I did not hear any difference. I, too, had to exchange for another unit due to the meter operation barely moving. The free replacement One Little Bear has been working fine for about 2 years now. I do like the larger size and additional features of your review unit. I would probably purchase it when the time comes. Thanks for your great review!
@@vintageaudioreview I just bought one!
@@scottbennett3119 I only did a write up for the Douk unit, and I just read it and it actually has 1dB of gain at 20hz. My guess is that it is caused by the transformer they have installed as part of the VU meter circuit. I wrote them and they got back to me and told me to look to see if the unit I had was configured with certain parts indicating a change to fix the problem had been made, and it had, so I returned it to Amazon again. For most folks it is not a big deal, but for what I do, it was unacceptable. I do not think that I've done a video on the switcher that I use now, but did a write up which I also posted on the ASR site. I really like the ET30, but don't have a need for it with my systems, but my buddy Ian does so he has it (trade credit for some piece of gear of his 😃) and really enjoys being able to switch between two amps and two speakers
@vintageaudioreview I said earlier you did either a review or report, as I couldn't remember exactly which it was. Anyway, I went ahead and bought the unit today because of your enthusiastic review today...
Mine looses the left channel while switching amps. When that happens, you have to increase the volume very high to get the channel working again, which is really bad for the speaker. It started doing this about 5 or 6 months after purchase. I currently have it set on just one amp and set up speakers for the TV. Neohipo say they will honor the return, but want a photo of the problem. A photo isn't going to show anything- the VU meter still swings while the channel has dropped. Still working through the problem with them.
I would take a video of what is going on with it using your phone and send it to them. They have been very good with my dealings with them. Sorry to hear that it acted up.
@@vintageaudioreview The video may or may not show the drop in one channel, though. The VU's still both swing. I will try to use the mic input for the meters and see if there's a difference there.After watching your review again, I'll bet that there's a faulty relay.
@@jamcdona W/out a schematic it's hard to say where the vu meters are getting there signal from (before or after the relay). If you are so equipped, you could play back a 1khz or 500hz stereo tone and connect a multimeter that reads basic ac frequency and show that the signal has disappeared
Interesting. I think if you halve the power then adjust the knob on the right you can calibrate it to show a -3bd différance or vice versa.
Thanks for the comment. It would show a more accurate dB change when the power levels were less than I think 26w/8ohms, but as you were at a higher power level, say 52w/8ohms, the change was not 3dB- which is what I showed. If I then adjusted the control on the Left "Swing Range" so that it was at 0dB and then went to 104w/8ohms, maybe it would have shown a +3dB change.. but I did not do that, though it would have been another interesting test. Could have also went down to 26w/8ohms again and see if it was -3dB....I appreciate your suggestion.
The last thing the signal path between an amp and speakers need is more switches or relays. The better the system the more it would destroy the sound.
And "VU" meters? Outright LIE! "VU" as a meter spec is useless for power amps! Actual VU meters don't measure Peaks which you would want in Power meters, they measure RMS averages with a needle response rise time of 300 ms, way to slow! 0 VU is 1.228 Volts RMS across a 600 ohm resistance. Useless for measuring the voltage 20V - 60V most amps put out to 8 ohms. 100Watts is roughly 28 volts @ 8 ohms.
First, thanks so much for sharing your comments! I Agree with you about the whole VU thing. They are not power meters and do not show watts. But they can be useful to do a quick matching to set the amplifier output levels at say 1khz that would be going into each speaker- easier than hooking up a DMM for most folks. You are obviously technically inclined. I like when your amp gives you a choice of whether you want a peak meter response or average, on a "hold peak for a while" (or LEDs if that is what is used). I would say that up to the current handling capability of the ET30, your sound is pretty much not going to be affected from what the data showed.
@@vintageaudioreview I'm on a mission to correct the misuse of "VU" for what are or should be Power meters. Even back in the day VU was misused with even better display's like Peak Sample and Hold. VU was only used to assure uniform display in the way way back days.
But with people willing to spend $10k or more on speaker cables to provide the most direct signal transfer from the amp, all those extra connectors, relays, ...
@@glenncurry3041 I remember reading threads about the mis-use of VU meters on the ASR site, and it was in regard to a device like the ET30. I actually just finished sending an email to Neohipo based on your comments, about making it an actual power meter with a switch to set for 20w or 200w (8ohms) ranges and not have the controls. My guess is that folks who spend $10k for speaker cables have no need for a device like the ET30 as they should have a room dedicated to each of their systems.
@@vintageaudioreview You might check the source names. It might have been me. I've posted a number of times when I see these things.
These are mislabeled voltage meters. Ever relabeling them to Watts based on 8 ohms is not technically accurate. True power meters monitor the voltage and current in relevant phases. Like the AC Meter on houses. But yes, likely a dual 4 ohm and 8 ohm set of scales would at least be meaningful.
@@glenncurry3041 The person I emailed the suggestions to thought it was a good idea and passed the suggestion onto the engineering team. I have designed a few LED power meters, which strictly measured the voltage across the load, and were ok for what they are. My 1st attempt at designing one using big blue meters failed and set me back about $200, though I may try another approach at some point in time...I like displays