On my 8080DB, I replaced the burnt bulbs with period correct incandescents. It's the "correct" color (a VERY unique aquamarine/teal shade I've never seen anywhere else.) And it just looks right. Plus, there are no weird technical issues to deal with. But as a preventative measure, we just drilled 2 little holes in the plastic housing to let some of the heat escape. For me, it's not just the vintage sound I want. It's the vintage look also.

I used warm white LEDs for the radio dial and tuning meters. I kept everything else incandescent for now. I did actually prefer the sea foam green color of incandescent lights, but I also wanted to modify the tuner lights to stay on with the other input settings. I don't want to continue to bake that plastic holder with heat, so LEDs seemed like the best choice for me. And, the blue dial still looks quite good!

Gorgeous stereos

I converted my 7070 to LED and did not like the diffusion. So I ended up keeping the LED for all of the other lamps (function indicators, tuning meters, VU meters) and then put incandescent lamps back into the dial. For me this was the best hybrid solution. There are not diffusion issues in the remaining LED locations.

@NovaluxStereophonic

2 жыл бұрын

I ended up trying the opposite in the one with incandescent Lamps as an experiment. kept all original indicators and put LED in dial and blue meters. It’s all about little tweaks to end up with something that you like the look of and are comfortable maintaining.

THe best lighting to use, incadecents for power meters, leds for the rest, mine are not so bright as yours for tuner meters and looks nice, however the power meters during daytime arent bright enough to see very well, mine is a 990db

I was looking at the white wash on the led on the tuning signal meter and strength signal meter 🤔

@NovaluxStereophonic

2 жыл бұрын

It is more pronounced on video than it it is in person but it certainly is there. This morning I flipped the LED backwards allowing it to diffuse off of the white lamp guard and that improved the meter fill. LED can be finicky in this way. It’s always a balance between a few different factors to get the ideal look. This is the basis of the LED vs Incandescent dilemma.

How involved would it be to integrate (design & install) an ambient light sensor circuit to moderate the output proportionate to ambient levels?

@NovaluxStereophonic

2 жыл бұрын

This would be difficult as the stereo indicator does not run on the same supply as the rest do the lamps. In theory it could be done but it would involve adding a DC power supply and sensor circuit. Interesting idea but not sure if it is a marketable modification.

I've tried many combinations of lights on my 9090db. What I have found that looks closest to original is this. The tuning meters now have warm white LED. Cool white, and cool blue was too marantz blue. For the power meters, I swapped warm white leds, but shortly after, one of them went out. Was not pleased with the color, and brightness so installed new replacement incandescent. The radio display, I tried cool blue, and dark blue leds they were way too blue. Then tried warm white, and found color ok, but really not bright enough. For now I have cool white, and it is brighter blue. Also added additional leds to both ends. Soldered 20 gauge solid wire to the bulbs, and aimed towards the very ends, where it shows FM on the left, and mHZ on the right. Nothing in the housing was modified, so it remains original. The wire is strong enough to hold the bulb in position, and supplies power to it. Now the display is more evenly lighted. The warm white led gives a slight green tone to the display, just like the original incandescent. I may get more and do the 2 extra lights at the ends. Function indicators are warm white leds with leads and built in resistors, purchased on ebay. Have had 2 of those dim, but still working. I plan to replace those with higher quality led/resistors. I have a Sansui 331 receiver. Those have a glass display with a single bulb at each end. Installed warm white leds, and it looks wonderful. The glass lights evenly and has a nice warm tone to it. Wish the 9090 was similar instead of the marantz plastic look.

@NovaluxStereophonic

2 жыл бұрын

Your indicator LEDs going dim may be a sign that your selector switch is getting really dirty. I now fully remove, disassemble, and clean these switch contacts until resistance is near zero. I like the idea of adding addition LED to the sides do the dial. 9090DB never gets compete edge fill with the stock diffuser and lamp locations. I have found that I really like incandescent for the power meters and indicators and warm white for all fuse style lamps on the 8080. 9090DB seems to diffuse LED light much better the the 8080, especially tuning and signal strength.

@scrappy7571

2 жыл бұрын

@@NovaluxStereophonic I did clean that pesky selector switch, when it was dropping sound on 1 channel. It really needs to be removed and dissembled for thorough cleaning. If you add the leds to the sides, post your results. I would post a pic of how I did it, but not allowed. EDIT. I just checked voltage and verified ground to each selector led. All check the same, even the dim flickering one. Plan is to make my own using better quality parts. Sucks to go back into, because of crap parts.

Ben, on the LED converted top Sansui 8080 do the VU meters look like they have an overly bright center in person? In the video those VU meters on the far left look bright in the center. Yet the incandescent lamp, lower Sansui, the light looks uniform across the same VU meters.

@NovaluxStereophonic

2 жыл бұрын

In person it is a nice gradient swell from the center. Same thing happens with incandescent. The camera just has a hard time reproducing it. It may be too bright for some individuals in a dark room.

@NovaluxStereophonic

2 жыл бұрын

BTW I assume you are speaking about the Signal and Tuning meters and not the yellow power meters?

@Thechriskraft

2 жыл бұрын

@@NovaluxStereophonic correct, the signal and tuning meters. My mistake.

original looks way better in my eyes.