What happened to the Magic Eye?

GarMan · « **on:** 6 Apr 2004, 08:42 pm »

Never paid much attention to it when it was available. But since I saw one in person, I want to find out how to get one in my system.

Are kits or schematics still available?

Gar.

Dr. Lloyd · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 May 2004, 03:07 pm »

The magic eye tube monitor product was withdrawn due to lack of interest and the rising cost of the 1629 indicator tubes. If anyone wants copies of the schematic and the assembly manual, just email me and I will send you the pdf files. You may also be interested in the limited production Ear+ Purist HD50 heaphone amplifier which uses two magic eye tubes (see separate post).

Lloyd

JoshK · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 May 2004, 03:12 pm »

Maybe, like me, most people didn't understand what it was for? Could you explain what the use was?

Dr. Lloyd · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 May 2004, 03:45 pm »

Good question: There are at least three uses I can see for a magic eye tube monitor.

1. With a mono source feeding both channels of your system and the monitor connected to the speaker outputs, you can check and adjust electrical balance of the left and right channels.

2. With the monitor connected to the speakers, you can set the sensitivity control to a a peak power setting that will just close the eye. Thus, you can use it as a peak power monitor.

3. Connected anywhere in the system, it gives a visual indication of signal presence and, especially with the low speed (averaging) setting, it offers a visually interesting display, especially in a darkened room.

Lloyd

nathanm · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 May 2004, 06:32 pm »

Are the 1629 tubes something that is no longer manufactured by present day tube companies? I bought replacements for my amp and they were about 10 bucks each. I don't know if that is a high price, relatively speaking, or not.

Dr. Lloyd · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 May 2004, 01:40 am »

You are right, AES lists 1629s at $9.90 which is less than they were a year or two ago. New supplies seem to surface from time to time. There seemed to be a scarcity when Cary started using them in their power amps and probably bought a large amount of the available stock. However, there will never be any more of them made and in fact, as far as I know, hasn't been for a long time. If there is any demand, I can always resurect the Eye 2 kit and assembled versions, probably in a slightly smaller chassis than the original--the same size as the Ear+ Purist. It would then sit nicely under the Ear+ chassis.

Lloyd

Passive Chappy · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Jul 2004, 01:02 pm »

Dr. Lloyd, I just saw this thread and wanted to let you know that I'm interested in a magic eye unit whenever you start building these again.

Thanks.

Dr. Lloyd · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Jul 2004, 02:27 pm »

I built a limited edition of 4 Ear+ Purist HD50 headphone amps recently with 1629 eye tubes I got from the Tubestore in Hamilton, Ontario. I am willing to build assembled Eye 2 monitor units on order for $350. These would be in the 10" x 6" chassis size like the Ear+. Like the original, they include a built in voltage amplifier with variable gain and a hi-lo speed switch.

Lloyd