Magnavox D8443 Disco LED Custom

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jwalk1

jwalk1

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I picked up this D8443 on craigslist for $10.00. It needed some major work, it was absolutely filthy, no power to tape deck, broken antenna, rusted grill with coke or something spilled in it. Since I had to open it up anyway I thought I might try to do an LED mod. Got the cassette going, it was just a dirty contact. Painted the grill.

At first I added some LEDs and hooked them to the speakers and they worked, but as the volume was turned up the lights would just go full on and not dance. I found this cool little 4 channel audio LED synchronizer that you can hook to the line out. It splits the audio into Low, Low Mid, Mid High, and High, and allows the leds to dance at the same pace regardless of the volume. I was hoping to use this for the line in for my ipod but like everyone says the line in absolutely stinks. Has anyone got the line in to work better? It sounds like dirty contacts and I havent cleaned everything yet so maybe I can find it. Heres a quick vid. I'm only using 3 channels right now and I might add another channel of blue LED just haven't decided yet.

[youtube]4kRdWXXkr-Y[/youtube]
 
jwalk1

jwalk1

Member (SA)
Partsxpress. The best thing was it was only $15.00, also it was already assembled. I looked at some DIY kits before I found this one, but really didnt want to solder together a whole kit with 100 little parts and have a bad connection. The only downside is that the low end comes on before the higher ends do and I should have used a different color for the bass. I used the red, but it takes less juice to light them which makes them not dance as much, its kind of a balancing act. There was another kit that you can buy that connects the splitter to your computer and your supposed to be able to tweak the levels up or down. I might look into that. Heres a link to the splitter. I also bought the LED Driver board they sell for 12.00 just to play with it. I havent used it for anything yet, it only has 4 LED on it R,G,B,Y, but it will absolutely blind you at full strength. Its got some serious power!

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=073-056

And a pic.
photo5.jpg
 
jwalk1

jwalk1

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Still in the shop. I am not going to work on it myself. I took it to my guy that works on some stuff for me. I am hoping that its ready this week. :thumbsup: He didnt seem to concerned, I dropped it off last week, showed him what was wrong and he said no problem, call me next week. I'm ready to see it though!
 
jwalk1

jwalk1

Member (SA)
The manual does not say. I was testing it out with a 12v 100ma power supply and it worked fine.

Painted the beveled plastic areas around the speakers with a chrome automotive paint to help reflect some of the light. Got it back together for now, forgot to put the stupid handle on so I guess it will come apart again.

mag2.jpg
 
jwalk1

jwalk1

Member (SA)
No but I will take some pics when I open it back up. I still need to add a fuse and an on/off switch. Right now the splitter is getting power straight off the 12v transformer, tapped into the leads that run 12v to the board. Each LED is ran in Parrallel to the splitter to its respective channel. The line out was tapped at the board and ran to the splitter.
 
Zippy

Zippy

Member (SA)
Awesome :drool: I always dreamt of doing something like this!
And that 999 is sick! Bass sounds overdriven though :D
 
staplegun

staplegun

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Looks great. I have been wanting to try one of these mods. Just watched a couple of vids on how to and I have a simple question. Can the dancing light feature be turned on and off or is it on all the time the box is on? Thanks...once again...looks great :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
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