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Monday, May 9, 2016

A 12AU7 Atop a Raspberry Pi

http://makezine.com/2016/05/06/warm-tube-tone-is-just-what-the-raspberry-pi-has-always-been-missing/

I don't know what to say.   One moment I find myself thinking that this could represent "the best of both worlds."   A minute later I'm thinking that this thing is a horrible chimera.  And it has a whiff of audio fool-ism about it, don't you think?  Will it work better with oxygen-free cables and gold-plated fuses? 

Still, overall -- pretty cool.

5 comments:

  1. It's all about the warm glow of the tubes and the slight 60 Hz hum which in known to enhance any content. Look for an old AM broadcast radio at a garage sale with a low level "phono" input and see for yourself. I wonder if any vintage ham rcvrs have a phono input?
    Bob
    wm6h

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    Replies
    1. Forgot this is the literal internet. Just kidding about the 60 Hz.

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    2. I have a early 50's Hallicrafters S-53A that has a phono input jack in the back. It is switched in by turning the RF Gain control all the way CCW.
      Doug - W8NFT

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  2. Thanks Doug. I see the Hallicrafters SX-100 does as well. Google shows circuits to convert Raspberry Pi audio to phono input.

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  3. I wonder if this circuit would adapt to using a 12AF6 tube. It is the same pin-out as the 12AU6 (pentode) but uses just 12 volts on the plate. A bit lower transconductance, but using headphones it should prove to be doable. This would make an interesting hack. Bruce - KK0S

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