Add an MP3/smartphone input to your valve radio

Рет қаралды 5,927

3 жыл бұрын

I first saw this mod presented on D-Lab by Terry Dayton. It's a killer mod and adds a new lease of life to your Valve Radio.
I demonstrate all the steps required to install this mod for the beginner.

Пікірлер: 46

@oscargermanalbornozmiliani 2 жыл бұрын

Professor , you have been clear, precise and concise. . "More clear not a rooster sings". From Caracas,Vzla.Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

Muchísimas gracias Oscar😃

@alebenages745 Жыл бұрын

Hey thank you so much for your detailed and slow video. It was really nice to see you working. I learned a lot.

@exeterslab7781 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ale, glad you got something out of it 😀

@northfolk6991 2 жыл бұрын

Just done this to my 1947 Kolster-Brandes BM20 very happy with the outcome. Thanks

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

glad it worked well for you. Yes, a very cool radio there. Enjoy

@hestheMaster 2 жыл бұрын

If you are stymied by all of this go to YT 'er Mister Radio. He goes into detail on how to accomplish this procedure using a small welding isolation transformer like the ones found in "wall warts". He has done this on many radios having a series string tube ( AC-DC) set. On power transformer sets you can get away without using an isolation transformer because there isn't high voltage on the input line of a correctly recapped radio.

@Steven-cb8oo 3 жыл бұрын

Very helpful video with good presentation. Thank you!

@exeterslab7781 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@exeterslab7781 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Stephen, much appreciated.

@ohioman3704 3 жыл бұрын

Very Very good tutorial, much better than D-Labs which he did not go step by step and install it like you demonstrated. Very well done.

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciated your comment thank you Ohio Man :)

@SwanseaTitanFan 3 жыл бұрын

Just what I needed. Thanks

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help John. If you have any issues such as low output from the mp3 player let me know

@user-ez9gy5hd7n 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the tutorial! I'm going to try this with a 1937 RCA victor 812K model

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

again, so sorry that i havn't been on. This covid has been tough. How did it go? any issues such as low volume output from the player?

@Kartoffelkonig97 Жыл бұрын

@@exeterslab7781 Not the author of the comment, but low volume is the issue I have. Or its very distorted.

@exeterslab7781 Жыл бұрын

@@Kartoffelkonig97 Hi Gio, what radio is it?

@armandcorpolongo 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed your video - very informative. I've also had problems with some radios not responding. The preamp addition would hopefully solve this issue. Would you consider doing a video on adding the preamp to the control grid? That would be help to resolve the problem with some of these radios. Thank you for posting.

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, yes some radios just don't want to play mp3's. The next one that needs a pre-amp will definitely have a video of it's own. Thanks for watching

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, SJ; yes I'm happy to do that video. It will have to be after I restore a handful of radios that I just received though. Thanks for watching

@kenf8563 3 жыл бұрын

Why did you use 1 ohm resistors for the R & L channels when I think D-Lab used 1K ohms? I think it makes more sense to use the 1 ohms for louder audio but perhaps D-Lab was thinking more about protecting the Mp3 and other players. Your thoughts please?

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry for the late reply Ken. I originally used 1k's as per D-Lab and then tried different values, as well as no resistors. I found no real difference on volume with all these variations. I use the the 1 ohm's as I have a heap of them and they are so easy to connect the switch to the input jack, rather than cutting up small wires. From what I understand from watching Terry, it's the 10k resistor that provides the impedance load to protect the player. I also noticed on a later D-lab video that terry had omitted the 1k resistors entirely. Ive been using my mp3 player regularly for over a year now and it just keep on chugging, so I'm confident that the 10k is all we need.

@rudijoris9555 5 ай бұрын

That definitely works but I would put a Bluetooth receiver in it .

@exeterslab7781 5 ай бұрын

Yes, BT is very popular, I'll have to get around to getting a module and trying it. Thanks for the prod :)

@andrewhughes6612 2 ай бұрын

Hi, looking at my first radio fix. I have a tube radio with pu mono/pu stereo buttons. Also old style 5 pin tape recorder input in the rear. Can i just use this input connection for AUX Thanks

@exeterslab7781 2 ай бұрын

Hi Andrew, yes, the aux input should be able to accept any audio input like an MP3 etc. It's just a matter of identifying the wiring on the din plug. For mono mp3 two wires are needed, one for earth and the other for the signal. For stereo, 3 wires, 2 x signal and 1 for earth. Good luck :)

@jeffherrmann8769 7 ай бұрын

Going to do this to Philco 37-675. Do you know if that’s a hot chassis?

@exeterslab7781 7 ай бұрын

I'm not familiar with this philco but I looked it up and saw that it''s a console according to radio museum.. The schematic shows a transformer so that's good. You can do the mp3 mod on a hot chassis (i've done it on a mantel set from the UK) you have to make sure that active is NOT going through the chassis. I've done a video on hot chassis mains wiring and I think D-lab and Uncle Doug have too. There are a number of videos out that demonstrate ho to ensure the chassis is not hot to the touch. Feel free to message or email me if you have any questions. Good luck with the project and stay safe

@2150dalek 2 жыл бұрын

I have a 1963 Battery powered (2 C cells & one 9v battery) 3" Reel to Reel Tape player. 4 Transistor, no tubes. I don't wan to use its cheap microphone to record music...I want to directly record songs from the mp3 player, to the mono socket of the Tape Player's microphone input. Then push down the red record button and let the music start going onto the Tape......Crazy idea? Must have been done before.....hopefully not many parts.

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

That's not crazy, I think it's brilliant. It's got to work easily enough even if you have to change the input jack to 3.5mm. Go for it

@holmespianotuning 3 ай бұрын

I would want it to go through the output tube rather than just connecting it to the speaker.

@exeterslab7781 3 ай бұрын

Hi, connecting an mp3 or phone directly to the speaker would produce little or no sound as they don't have the grunt to drive the speaker. By connecting to the input of the vol pot, the signal output, either radio or mp3 is then processed by the rest of the circuit which includes the output valve. Thanks for the comment

@keithsworld137 Жыл бұрын

what are the value on resistors?

@exeterslab7781 Жыл бұрын

I use 1 ohm resistors to connect the 3.5mm jack to the switch, it's easier then cutting small wires to make the connection. Terry Dayton from D-Lab originally used 5k resistors on his video. On a later video, he didn't used any. The 10k load resistor to ground is the important one

@David-kd7vl 2 жыл бұрын

Would love to do this on my eddystone 840 c.☹️

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

Hey David, have you tried jumpering your phone/player to the output of the volume pot. It should be the middle terminal

@David-kd7vl 2 жыл бұрын

@@exeterslab7781 not on my type of equipment no don't think it's good it's a live chassis no transformer in these sets.

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

@@David-kd7vl Ahh I see. yes best to be safe David

@jimcatanzaro7808 Жыл бұрын

U can hook up a Bluetooth adapter better then a MP3 player

@exeterslab7781 Жыл бұрын

I was going to try that Jim, but I bought a bluethooth dongle instead for under $5 on ebay, works great off the smart phone

@jamesmdeluca Жыл бұрын

You should at least check out how "mister radio" (channel) does his aux input with x'former isolation for use with "hot chassis" radios here in the "states".

@exeterslab7781 Жыл бұрын

Hi james, yes I watch Mr radio, very informative on hot chassis'

@SuperFredAZ 2 жыл бұрын

This is potentially very dangerous, for any radio that does not have a mains transformer or "hot chassis ". Do not attempt this unless you know what I am talking about. For < $15 you can get some cheap computer speakers that are safe. This modification can KILL!

@exeterslab7781 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Fred, Yes hot chassis' are a potential death trap if the active is running through the chassis into the circuit rather than the other way round. I'm going to mention this on my next video. Thanks for he heads up

@David-kd7vl 2 жыл бұрын

Index could be deadly I have a eddystone 840 c. Wish I could do something like that on mine but it would be crazy to do so quite shocking possibly!😬