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FM-3 and EMM 801

pat5jfet

pat5jfet

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I hauled my bad old FM-3 out to rework it. EMM 801 was dead. Has anybody out there in tube land installed another tube for the tuning eye? Like the one used in the FM-1? McIntosh solved the problem with one of their tube tuners that used EMM 801. The second version of this tuner used a cheaper and more available tuning eye and a bulb to indicate stereo. This probably happend in 1970 when production ceased on EMM 801 by Telefunken.
 
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There's no easy sub for the EMM801 because it's a dual bar indicator. Nearly all reasonable cost indicators available today are the single bar type.

Technically, it's possible to substitute two single bar indicators like EM 84 but physically, they won't fit the bezel. It should also be possible to design something using LEDs. This is a somewhat involved exercise and probably not worth the effort unless you're knowlegable of the FM3 indicator circuits and have expertise in circuit design.

Considering that the FM3 wasn't a TOTL tuner, probably the best bet would be a used/good EMM801 from wherever you can find one.
 
Thanks Steve...I have ordered another FM-3 with all the tubes. It takes two to keep one running. Mine is very burned up and the assembly was not so great either. I will make this a long-term project. What McIntosh did for the MR-67 is the answer which is replacing the top indicator (for stereo) with a bulb. I won't feel guilty cutting up the faceplate of an old FM-3 anyway to add a bulb or LED. TOTL=top of the line? Any H.H. Scott Tuner from the golden age is better and they were TOTL.
 
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