Help me pick the LED colors for my hybrid tube headphone amp!

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aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
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Going to start building a Millet Hybrid MiniMAX in the next week or two. Working through the BOM right now and i've come to a critical point in any Millet build, what color LED's to use for both the tubes and board itself.

Board Layout
Filled Board
Finished Prototype Amp (from the man himself) - Mine will be very similar, except i'll be using a slightly different case with a lexan top so you can see the internals. - Basically a mini version of this with a standard metal front.

So, what color LED's?

I've been thinking maybe White LED for the board itself, and Purple LED's for the Tubes. Or the reverse?

 
So

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Originally posted by: aphex
Going to start building a Millet Hybrid MiniMAX in the next week or two. Working through the BOM right now and i've come to a critical point in any Millet build, what color LED's to use for both the tubes and board itself.

Board Layout
Filled Board
Finished Prototype Amp (from the man himself) - Mine will be very similar, except i'll be using a slightly different case with a lexan top so you can see the internals. - Basically a mini version of this with a standard metal front.

So, what color LED's?

I've been thinking maybe White LED for the board itself, and Purple LED's for the Tubes. Or the reverse?
Click to expand...

Weak. Use NE-2s for illumination for a real retro look!
 
D

darkswordsman17

Lifer
Mar 11, 2004
23,444
5,852
146
Are LEDs necessary? I think they look kinda blah myself. If you could get an orange or yellow to accent the natural glow of the tube then maybe, but all the other normal green, bright blue, white, and others just don't look that cool.
 
aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Are LEDs necessary? I think they look kinda blah myself. If you could get an orange or yellow to accent the natural glow of the tube then maybe, but all the other normal green, bright blue, white, and others just don't look that cool.
Click to expand...

I'm going to use them in lieu of a power LED, and to each his own I suppose, I kinda prefer them.

My old Little Dot MKIII used to glow on its own, but the glow is pretty dim unless the room is completely dark.
 
aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
Originally posted by: So
Originally posted by: aphex
Going to start building a Millet Hybrid MiniMAX in the next week or two. Working through the BOM right now and i've come to a critical point in any Millet build, what color LED's to use for both the tubes and board itself.

Board Layout
Filled Board
Finished Prototype Amp (from the man himself) - Mine will be very similar, except i'll be using a slightly different case with a lexan top so you can see the internals. - Basically a mini version of this with a standard metal front.

So, what color LED's?

I've been thinking maybe White LED for the board itself, and Purple LED's for the Tubes. Or the reverse?
Click to expand...

Weak. Use NE-2s for illumination for a real retro look!
Click to expand...

lol, don't think that will fit too well under the tubes ;)

Then again, I do have 2 NE-2's on their way to me from Estonia at the moment for my Nixie Clock :)
 
aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
Originally posted by: Leros
blue is the only real option
Click to expand...

I thought about it, but everything has blue LED's these days, so it kinda turned me off from it.

What about all white? White board LED and white tubes?
 
D

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
blue is over done for sure. white is good. red might have an interesting effect.
 
So

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Originally posted by: aphex
Originally posted by: So
Originally posted by: aphex
Going to start building a Millet Hybrid MiniMAX in the next week or two. Working through the BOM right now and i've come to a critical point in any Millet build, what color LED's to use for both the tubes and board itself.

Board Layout
Filled Board
Finished Prototype Amp (from the man himself) - Mine will be very similar, except i'll be using a slightly different case with a lexan top so you can see the internals. - Basically a mini version of this with a standard metal front.

So, what color LED's?

I've been thinking maybe White LED for the board itself, and Purple LED's for the Tubes. Or the reverse?
Click to expand...

Weak. Use NE-2s for illumination for a real retro look!
Click to expand...

lol, don't think that will fit too well under the tubes ;)

Then again, I do have 2 NE-2's on their way to me from Estonia at the moment for my Nixie Clock :)
Click to expand...

I've actually finally decided to pick my nixie clock project back up -- I have a working clock but it's damn temperamental because I hand soldered most of the logic connections. I'm gonna build a proper second PCB for the clock logic.
 
aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
Originally posted by: Baked
White is hot. I think they're pricey too.
Click to expand...

Slightly, but not really. $1-2 per LED.
 
T

thelanx

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2000
3,299
0
0
Haha, just saw this thread. I replied to your thread over at Head-Fi. I assume you've already settle on white? That would be interesting, please post pics when you finish it.
 
aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
Originally posted by: silverpig
Do you just order a kit or something?
Click to expand...

You order a PCB from the designer, then order parts from a Bill of Materials they provide from one of the big electronic parts companies (Mouser, Digikey, etc...)
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
I would go with blue just because as a kid I used to lay and watch my fathers home built "Hi Fi" amp when he was listening to music because the 2 power out tubes had a blue glow that brightened/dimmed in time to the music.
 
B

bobdole369

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2004
4,504
2
0
OP, kindly post a link to the build info. I think I just found my next project. What tubes are used as finals?

 
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