just got my bbx, so disapoint

[Andy_from_Perth]

just got my Marantz PH32, everything is absolutely perfect with it except the led VU meters dont work - on radio or aux/phono when i plug my mp3 player in .

i assume this is 'normal'

i cant find a tape to test them but they do flicker on at power-up as they should, so im sure they work.

this sux i was hoping they would work on aux/phono (and radio would be nice)

any ideas? or confirm this is the way it is with some bbx's?

 

[Reli]

That's actually the way it is for 50-60% of boxes. You have to hit Record for them to work.

 

[skippy1969]

Yes,I'll bet the meters only work with the cassette playing.
Several multipiece units are like that.
Like the JVC PC55/PC550,My Pioneer CK mini compo system,Telefunken studio 1 and 1M.

 

[Andy_from_Perth]

That's actually the way it is for 50-60% of boxes. You have to hit Record for them to work.

so, if i put a blank tape in and hit record while listing to mp3 or radio they will work?

could be a plan

 

[redbenjoe]

how does it sound ?

 

[Andy_from_Perth]

how does it sound ?

absolutely fantastic!!!

its in mint condish too

 

[tshorba]

The LED's on this are for the deck only, as a component box the deck has no way of knowing the output from the amp section so can not display as a VU meter.

Did it have it's rear cover?

If you have some home stereo speakers (with decent sensitivity) try them on the amp, this should alleviate some of your pain.

 

[Andy_from_Perth]

The LED's on this are for the deck only, as a component box the deck has no way of knowing the output from the amp section so can not display as a VU meter.

Did it have it's rear cover?

If you have some home stereo speakers (with decent sensitivity) try them on the amp, this should alleviate some of your pain.

yes came with a rear cover & all manuals.

what about recording line in/radio on a blank tape? would the meters work then?

ive got some small jvc speakers but i dont want to hook them up & im not sure how this would help.

thanks for all your help guys

 

[Reli]

The LED's on this are for the deck only, as a component box the deck has no way of knowing the output from the amp section so can not display as a VU meter.

But it can Record from the amp and tuner, so they ARE connected. I don't see why it would be impossible for them to display the VU, with a small modification in circuitry.

 

[redbenjoe]

how does it sound ?

absolutely fantastic!!!

its in mint condish too

----------------------

told ya

 

[tshorba]

My deck is cactus so I can't say 100% but thats what they are for.

The amp is a killer, can drive some speakers very well, better than half the crap out there these days. I used it to drive a pair of two way (12" CTS & 3" Kaltro) it did a much better job than my full size Denon.

You will have to scan the manuals and upload them for us

Congrats on the rear cover, it's normally missing, but a very nice piece to compleate the unit.

 

[Andy_from_Perth]

yeah i will scan all 4 manuals but im not sure where to upload them.

i did wonder about these VU meters on a component system before i bought it,

such a shame i wont be able to get them to work :'-(

 

[jaetee]

The LED's on this are for the deck only, as a component box the deck has no way of knowing the output from the amp section so can not display as a VU meter.

Did it have it's rear cover?

If you have some home stereo speakers (with decent sensitivity) try them on the amp, this should alleviate some of your pain.

yes came with a rear cover & all manuals.

what about recording line in/radio on a blank tape? would the meters work then?

ive got some small jvc speakers but i dont want to hook them up & im not sure how this would help.

thanks for all your help guys

Put in a tape, hit pause and Play/Rec.... then see if the VU's work. However, I would not do that just for the sake of making the VU's jump all the time. That is a great way to burn out a tape deck motor.

I would just do it long enough for the novelty to wear off...

 

[Andy_from_Perth]

why would i need the pause button pressed?

if i could find a tape here i would try it

one thing i did try just then was hitting play/record with no tape in there (i held down a little switch so it thought there was a tape in there), but no leds.

will have to try and find a tape somewhere & give it a go if you guys think it might work?
not keen to burn the motor out tho, so would need to work without the pause button being down

cheers

 

[tshorba]

why would i need the pause button pressed?

one thing i did try just then was hitting play/record with no tape in there (i held down a little switch so it thought there was a tape in there), but no leds.

Was there a signal (source material) connected to the deck input?

 

[Reli]

why would i need the pause button pressed?

if i could find a tape here i would try it

one thing i did try just then was hitting play/record with no tape in there (i held down a little switch so it thought there was a tape in there), but no leds.

will have to try and find a tape somewhere & give it a go if you guys think it might work?
not keen to burn the motor out tho, so would need to work without the pause button being down

cheers

The reason for the Pause button is so that your tape won't reach the end and stop.

The motor runs whether or not the Pause button is pressed.....Pause isn't going to make the motor "wear out" any faster.

The only difference is, when Pause is pressed, the rollers are disengaged so that they don't run the tape.

By the way, in order to see the LED's you need to have some kind of music being input into the deck, and you will need to put it on Auto Level control, or put it on Manual and turn the Rec Vol knobs so that they allow signal to come through.

 

[redbenjoe]

i think there is a cool way to to 'trick' the box --
into thinking its recording --even when the motor is not running -
its a lever to depress -- inside the cassette slot -

ask monchito

 

[Andy_from_Perth]

success, i now have sweet dancing leds on radio & aux (mp3)

tape player is recording (with no tape in it or pause button on), the problem was i needed to have the recording level knob turned up at least 1/2 way - near max is perfect.

im stoked now, she looks so sweet

thanks for all the advice guys, it really helped

 

[Andy_from_Perth]

Was there a signal (source material) connected to the deck input?

yes there was, tried radio & mp3 on aux, but i didnt have the recording level turned up enough

 

[stormsven]

and im feeling another LED fetish is born . Congrats.