This head unit by Panasonic really makes me wonder.

It has a tube in it, positioned right up front for all to see.

My question is: how does one tube process two channels of stereo audio?

So I'm thinking this tube does the same thing as most Behringer tube products: light up and look pretty.

I've looked all over the web hoping to see if someone, anyone has considered that one tube cannot process stereo inputs.

But no one has mentioned it.

Am I wrong about this? I think it's a gimmick. Also, can a car even produce the voltage needed to run a tube?

Hethaerto

Tube Head Unit by Panasonic

Looks interesting. In the 50's all radios were tube, pre and power. If this is a 12ax7 or similar it will have two circuits.
Jeff

But shouldn't there be two tubes?

Why do you think there needs to be two tubes? A 12ax7 or similar has two circuits in each tube. In a diagram it might read V1a and V1b. Use one for left channel and the other for left. Only class "AB" power blocks need pairs of tubes. Class "A" power needs only one tube but more can be added for more power. The car radio looks like this would be a preamp tube. I have not heard it but I would also be very skeptical about the "behringer" type use of a tube. Tubes should NOT be used as a light source and then heralded as better sounding.

Jeff

quote:

Tubes should NOT be used as a light source and then heralded as better sounding

I love that statement

I've seen these plus seceral other co's making "tube car stereos" much like this. They don't seem too honest to me. I'm thinking Behringer...although you don't need two tubes to pass a stereo signal. It could be that they're using the tube as just an output buffer like the Bellari one-tube phono stage or some ART gear etc...but dunno.

Thanx, fellas. I didn't know one tube could pass a stereo signal.

Have you ever seen a circuit that ran a mono signal through one side of a tube, and then ran it again through the other side of the tube?

Many tube amps do that. Any tube amp (bass or guitar) with one preamp tube is designed this way. Many Sunn amps had one 12ax7 for pre and a single power tube or a pair. Many of the micro amps out now have one tube and you can use almost any tube that will fit. Remember that any tube has a given number of circuits. Not mono and not stereo. How you wire it determans mono or stereo.

Jeff