Can you remember grandma's old tube radio with the "magic green thing" in the front which showed the quality of the signal reception?

If you're searching on Ebay for "Magic Eye" than you'll find not only a lot of tubes but also offers of such VU meter kits. But as against the most other offers you need not to supply all the voltages (6 V and 250 V), you do not need to build a case, solder adapter wires for the tube's connections, have only a mono display or only one tube type which can be fitted.

Mr. Nixie has taken all these kits, put them in a pot, added a hefty dose of the legendary Mr. Nixie Magic, and finally the Universal Magic Eye VU-Meter was created.

You can fit into this VU-Meter the most commonly available Magic Eye tubes without the need to do any soldering. Even the different heater voltages doesn't matter as they can easily be set with a DIP switch for 4 V / 6 V / 12 V and 19 V.
Built in to the circuitry is an automatic level control, therefore your Magic Eye will always display a signal, regardless of the input level.
Another highlight is the true stereo design of the circuit. By inserting e.g. the EM83 stereo Magic Eye tube, you'll get a real stereo dual display with only one tube.

See here some examples which tubes can be fitted on the black tube board:

front: UM85, EM83, 6E1P / rear: EM84 / EM800

You do not need a solder iron to swap the tube's type on the black tube board. A simple Torx screwdriver is enough.

Thanks to different coloured stereo tube boards even two Magic Eye tubes can perform a stereo display:

Blue board: 2 x EM80 / 6E1-P / EM81 or 2 x EM84 / 6E3-P / EM87 / 6E2 / EM800


White board: 2 x UM80 / UM81 or 2 x EAM86


Yellow board: 1 x 6C5 / 1629 or 2 x HM 85 / UM85


Green board: 1 x EM71 or 1 x EAM86

• Compact size
• Power supply 12 VDC (sold serarately)
• 2 x 1/8" TRS stereo jacks
• Automatic level control
• All necessary operating voltages are generated on the mainboard
• All SMT parts are already assembled and soldered on mainboard
• The black tubeboard can be fitted in four different positions
• Four different stereo tubeboards
• Around 95% of the Magic Eye tubes can be fitted (tubes are sold serarately)
• Selectable filament voltages

What you need:

• A smooth evening and around 2 hrs of assembly time
• A clear, well-lit area in which to work
• Electronic solder station and fine electronic solder
• Multimeter to check the generated voltages
• Electronic tools
• A loupe may be helpful
• TX10 (Torx) and PH1 screwdriver
• Download of all manuals
• Enjoyment of your work of course
• 1 or 2 x Magic Eye tubes (sold separately)
• Matching tubeboard and top cover
• Stabilized 12 VDC power supply (sold serarately)
• An audio source

Dimensions: 85 x 85 x 37 mm without tube(s)
Weight: 125 g
DC input: 12 V= 5.5/2.1 mm inner positive
AF input: 2 x 1.8" TRS stereo jacks, connected in parallel
Input impedance: ca. 10 kohms
Input sensitivity: 50 mV...2 V
ALC range: ca. 40 dB
Anode / screen voltage: max. 250 V
Switchable filament voltages: 4 / 6 / 12 / 19 V
Power consumption: ca. 8 W