LEDs or incandescent lamps, which do you use in your vintage gear?

[Rasputin47]

Which do you prefer using when you re-lamp your vintage gear, LEDs or incandescent lamps? Why?

There are a lot of threads on the subject, but I wondered what a poll would reveal.

 

[rBuckner]

I prefer incandescent for dial lighting for uniformity and correct color and LEDs for dial pointers, function callouts, and stereo indicators for longevity. I prefer the "true" red LEDs for stereo indicators.

 

[CougarXR7]

All incandescent bulbs (for as long as I can buy them).

 

[Sir.Byrd]

LED if budget allows.

 

[dr*audio]

I use LEDs when the lamps are difficult to install and I don't want to do it again, or when the lamps seem to fail often and I am tired of replacing them.
I think if there are fuse lamps and they just pop in with little disassembly, there is no reason to not use incandescent lamps, except in the case of Marantz, where the heat from the lamps melts the plastic lamp housing.

 

[avionic]

Whats Vintage gear?:scratch2:


I use whatever the client desires..

My personal stuff LED's

 

[Hyperion]

What ever is appropriate to the equipment concerned - if you can get the bulbs - use them, if you can't, consider LED's - but only if the conversion is a). easy b). does not ruin the 'look' of the equipment.

I am not a fan of blue LED conversions UNLESS the previous lighting was blue.

Just my 3 ha'pence worth.

 

[avionic]

I wonder if Uncle Fester can light and LED..:scratch2:

 

[Peterpics]

Bulbs of course!! Specially for long dials but the biggest and only problem is that there are no replacements available now in Sri Lanka (Especially 6.3 and 8volts)

 

[Steelman]

LED's for all my Marantz gear, really makes the the dial pop, incandescent for my Pioneer SX 50/80 gear.

I tried LED's in a SX-580...too cold for my taste

 

[rBuckner]

I wonder if Uncle Fester can light and LED..:scratch2:

Sure, but does he make a good DBT? :scratch2:

 

[Westy56]

LED's for all my Marantz gear, really makes the the dial pop, incandescent for my Pioneer SX 50/80 gear.

I tried LED's in a SX-580...too cold for my taste

No more tube gear?


Steve

 

[merrylander]

Incandescent since they restore the original look. They are receivers not reading lamps.

 

[atom94]

I only have one piece of vintage gear and have never had to change a lamp in it, but it currently uses incandescents. If/when I have to change one then i might try warm white LEDs, but if they change the look then I'll stick with incandescents.

 

[Steelman]

No more tube gear?


Steve

Can't seem to find any gems like you in my price range buddy

 

[Raccoon1400]

I found warm white LEDs on mouser, they are a godsend.

 

[Westy56]

Can't seem to find any gems like you in my price range buddy

I'd send you a pity ST-70, but that would be the equivalent to a slap in the face.

Good luck buddy, your time will come.


Steve

 

[avionic]

Sure, but does he make a good DBT? :scratch2:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=5193485&postcount=2

 

[ehoove]

Incandescent since they restore the original look. They are receivers not reading lamps.

I totally agree.
Regards,
Jim

 

[tybrad]

I wonder if Uncle Fester can light and LED..:scratch2:

Only if he knows to put his tongue on the cathode.

Seriously... I prefer the warmth and candor of incandescents to the sterile glow of LED's for general lighting. I take if far enough to still buy incandescent Christmas strings.

For equipment, I am of the mindset that if it was not designed with that look, then it ought not be that way. I guess that I'm more of a vintage gear preservationist than conservationist.