Tom's Views

Question: What determines the color of neon lights?  Answer: As in just about all gaseous discharge lamps, the color of neon lights is set by several factors, including:

1. The type of gas inside the neon light’s glass tubing.
2. The amount gas (pressure) inside the tube.
3. The type of fluorescent coating on the inside surface of the tubing
4. The color of the glass tubing itself.
5. Combinations of the above factors can produce colors in neon lights that span the entire visible spectrum and beyond.
6. To a much lesser degree, the amount of voltage applied can affect the emitted light color.

For an explanation of each of these color-determining factors, see below.

1. The Type of Gas Helps Set the Color of a Neon Light.
There are typically two gasses used in neon lights: neon (of course) and mercury vapor. Even though the mercury vapor neon lights contain no neon, they are still collectively referred to as ‘neon lights’ as they bear most of the characteristics of neon lights, except that they contain no neon.

Mercury vapor, when placed inside a clear, non coated glass tube, and subjected to a couple thousand volts of electricity, glows a sort of gentle blue color. This shade can be observed in street lights when they first come on and they are still very dim.

On the other hand, use neon gas, and you get a fiery, coal red glow such as seen coming from neon light beer signs. Neon requires higher voltages to create and sustain ionization in the colorful neon light.  Further, the amount of voltage required to get a healthy red glow from neon depends on the pressure of the neon gas inside as well as the length of the tube. A five-foot long tube filled with neon requires about 7000 volts to glow. Neon lights containing neon gas are said to be “red-based” while the neon lights utilizing mercury vapor are known as “blue-based” neon lights.

2. The Amount of Pressure Affects Color of Neon Lights
The pressure of the gas in the glass neon light tube is crucial. Too little pressure, too much air, or too much vacuum, and you’ll need prohibitively large amounts of voltage to get the gas to ionize, conduct current,  and glow. On the other hand, put too much gas in, and neon loses its vivid red color when ionized, and becomes more of a pink or white. To get good color and solid flicker-free lighting, the pressure must be controlled very precisely.

3. The type of Fluorescent Coating Affects Neon Light Color
Neon lights did not earn their colorful, vibrant reputation by using clear tubes of glass filled with neon gas alone. Without other mechanisms, the only colors you’d have would be red (neon) and blue (mercury vapor).

But neon lights come in just about every color of the rainbow, via the employment of the principle of fluorescence. Have you ever seen those brightly colored paints at Spencer’s gift shops that, when placed under a black light, glow unusually brightly? These are fluorescent paints, because they have the ability to absorb light energy of one color or wavelength, and convert it to another color. These paints convert the near ultraviolet rays of a black light into visible light. This makes them appear to glow without external stimuli. And that makes them intriguing to us younger folk.

The chemical makeup of these paints determines the optimum color of input light as well as the color they radiate after the input light is converted. Similar chemicals are applied as thin coatings on the inside of the glass tubes in neon lights, to produce many different colors. Mercury vapor radiates much ultra violet light when ionized (conducting electricity). The amount of visible light produced is rather small. But by applying a fluorescent coating, most of that ultraviolet light is converted to a more useful, visible energy. Blue, purple, pink, green, cyan, yellow, and white colors are produced this way.

On the other hand, similar effects are produced with neon in the tube. Neon produces a fair amount of infrared light that can be converted into visible energy as well. Pink is probably the most popular color produced using the neon gas and fluorescence combo inside a neon light.

4. The Color of the Glass Tube Itself Also Influences The Ultimate Neon Light Color
Coloring the glass of a lamp to make it emit a different color than it otherwise would has been used for a long time now to color incandescent lights (such as Christmas lights). A transparent or translucent coating is applied to the outside of the glass that prevents all but the desired color of light to pass through. In neon, you might start with a white light, and apply a nova blue filter to the glass, for a really bright, deep blue light. The extra bright neon that has appeared over the past 20 to 25 years employs this method. You can recognize this when the light is off. If the tube is colored something other than white, then this filtration system is its mode of operation of the neon light. A white tube means that method 3 is how the color is produced when it’s turned on.

5. Combinations of the Above
By applying a fluorescent coating to the inside of the tube as well as a filter to the glass itself or to the outside of it, all the visible colors can be produced in a wide array of intensities.

6.  On voltage determining neon light color: The voltage level controls more the intensity of the light rather than its color.  However, be careful not to apply too much voltage, as this can alter the chemical makeup of the neon and render it incapable of producing any light at all.  I experiment with those little neon light bulbs that you see in elevator button panels, old radios and so on.  I found that excessive voltage makes them glow quite brightly for a short time.  But they then burn out.

It appears however, that LED-filled tubes are supplanting gaseous discharge neon and fluorescent lights, because they require less voltage, are easier to fabricate, are more rugged and thus, are harder to break, are more efficient, and the LED lights are fast becoming cheaper than true neon lights, though they faithfully duplicate the brilliance and vibrancy of neon lights.  Plus, LED lights in a neon-style configuration can be adjusted by the user to emit any color in the rainbow.  The light color in traditional neon lights is set at the factory and cannot be changed by the end user.  Still the transition from neon to LED is slow at present.  So true neon lights will be popular for some decades to come I suspect.  Long live neon lights.  I love ‘em!

Tom Hesley

Other Gaseous Discharge Lamp Posts

• CFL Advantages and Disadvantages

I owned the  Sony MDR-V6 Studio Monitor Pro Headphones  for several months in 2006, and in that time, I played them over many evenings with several CD players, headphone amps, mixing boards, computer sound cards, and stereo receivers.  Allow me to   review the MDR-V6s here because I thought them exceptional audio listening devices in lots of ways.  The MDR-V6 headphones look and perform very much like the Sony MDR-V500 and MDR-7506 units I’ve also owned and discussed elsewhere in this blog.  They’re similar in sound, weight, comfort level, style of ear cushions, ease of ear cushion replacement, headband composition, size adjustment, and cabling.  The only real difference I found between the MDR-V6 and MDR-7506 headphones is that the MDR-7506s come with gold-plated 3.5mm connectors.  The MDR-V6s and MDR V500s appear to have either nickel or silver-plated connectors.  However, I found no difference in performance due to the gold connectors.  Otherwise, just about everything I said about these other headphones, also applies to the MDR-V6 headphones.  Thus, the following:

The MDRV6 Sony stereo headphones offer perhaps the best sound of any headphones in their price class.  They replicate the high frequencies with crystal clarity, and spare the heavy bass; especially once you’ve adapted to listening to the Sennheiser HD-650s.  But the bass level can be adjusted through an equalizer.  Actually, the reduced bass output makes these phones quite nice for iPod listening, since iPods are heavy on the bass anyhow.  I’ve used the MDR-V6 headphones with iPods on lots of train trips, and found them relaxing enough to sleep by.  I’ve owned many headphones from Sony, Koss, Grado, Sony, and Apple over the past three plus decades, the Sony MDR V6 units rank right up there among my favorite headphones.  I only sold them because I already had several pairs of the MDR-7506s, and I needed the money besides.

Given how little these cost (less than $100 on eBay currently), I found little to gripe about except that the ear cushions quickly wear out (after less than two years).  I had to replace them on my used set because they begin shedding bits and pieces of the fake leather coating on them.  But replacement ear cushions for the MDR-V6 headphones can be had for roughly $10 a pair on eBay and directly from Sony.  So this drawback is but a minor irritant.

So if $50 to $100 is all you can afford to spend on a quite-adequate pair of earphones, then I’d highly suggest the Sony MDRV6 headphones.  For that money, you get a fairly flat and hard-wearing pair of quality audio head gear, that work well in the studio, in transit, and just about any casual listening environment you’d care to set up.

Benefits Of The Sony MDR-V6 Headphones

• The MDR-V6 headphones are quite light.  In fact, they’re light enough, and offer a wide enough range of headband adjustment, that they do not press too hard against my eyeglasses. Thus, I never have to remove the eyeglasses while listening.
• The headband itself on the MDR-V6 headphones includes spongy padding as well that further enhances overall comfort level, and matches the sheen and texture of the ear cushions.  These phones in fact, feel as comfortable as they sound good.
• The MDR-V6 headphones look as good as they sound, yes.  They’re black with silver trim with a red and gold “For Digital” sticker on the back of each phone.  This gives them a simple yet sleek and modern hi-tech veneer.
• The MDR-V6 headphones offer fold-able ear pieces, which withdraw up inside the headband.  This shrinks the bulk of the overall unit down to a small enough size, that it fits in the included black pouch for protection from dust and other forces, hostile to headphones.
• The MDRV6 headphones can play loud enough, with the wide dynamic range over most of the audio frequency band.  This suits them particularly for widely-varying musical volume levels, such as those encountered in classical music.
• For listing to the more “always-loud” pop style music, the MDR-V6 headphones can play sufficiently loud to sting my ears without any noticeable gain in distortion or fidelity loss.
• While the connecting audio cable cannot be unplugged from the unit, replacement is easy with a screwdriver, cutters, and a soldering iron.
• I found the MDRV6 headphones tremendously light; especially after having adapted to wearing the Koss Tech 2 headphones for more than ten years prior. They’re even lighter than my Sennheiser HD-650 phones, and I thought those were light.
• Thus, I could wear the MDR-V6 headphones for hours at an occasion without any irritation whatsoever.  The music you’re listening to come to irritate you out way before these headphones fatigue your ears.
• New cables can easily be found from numerous Internet vendors including eBay.
• The MDR-V6 headphones can be worn with equal comfort either way (left earphone on left ear, or left earphone on right ear).  The angle adjustment on each earpiece probably accounts for this good aspect that I utilize when hearing those cheaper hit compilation CDs, where the stereo left and right channels are mastered backwards from the original LP or single versions.
• The MDRV6s reduce surrounding noise adequately for somewhat quiet environments, which is a useful feature of their closed-air design. A metal back plate boxes in the driver speaker in each earpiece, and this helps keep sound both in and out.
• Thus, there’s not much audio leakage with the MDR-V6s.  So, these are a good choice to listen to when other people are near and wish to be uninterrupted by your musing listening.
• The MDR-V6 headphones, despite their lightness, seem quite forgiving of abuse.  I’ve often dropped these earphones on the table or floor when done listening, with no resulting defects.  They’re not easily broken, and thus, hold up well in rough listening locations such as studios, DJ gigs, and travel settings.
• An iPod drives the MDR-V6 headphones quite well.
• You need no equalizer to tone down the bass response of the MDRV6 headphones.  They sound pretty nice with “flat” music sources. While a trifle strong on the high mid-range audio, they’re not so bad that they require an equalizer; though an equalizer does make them sound really spectacular when you lower the mid-range just a bit.  Be careful of how much bass you apply, as this can make the drivers rattle, and potentially blow them out.
• These headphones sport foamy, soft ear cushions, coated with a thin, resilient black film that gives them a soft, shiny leathery texture.  This further enhances the comfort of the MDRV6 headphones.
• The ear cushions have oval-shaped openings that allow them to work nicely as an ear-surrounding design.  However, these openings are rather small, such that my ears just barely fit inside.  Therefore, the inner edges of the cushion rims always touch my ears when wearing.  This might be a problem with other phones, whose ear cushions are not as soft as those in these MDR-V6s.  But this causes little discomfort with this studio monitor pro grade headset.
• These silky soft ear pads are medium sized in circumference, but not terribly deep.  Thus, the front of the driver speaker touches my ear.  But again with the overall softness of the ear cushions and the cloth that covers the driver, this does not detract from long periods of comfortable listening for me.

What I Dislike About The Sony MDR-V6 Headphones

As I mentioned earlier, given how cheaply priced these headphones are, I found none too much to lawfully complain about in them.  But here are several gripes I managed to scratch out after considerable effort:

• These phones are not equipped with gold connectors; which provide the most reliably connection to the audio source.  But I never had problems with corrosion or other forces to which a gold connector is immune.
• The cables are not as easy to replace as they would have been if made detachable.
• The MDRV6 ear cushions begin flaking and pealing less than a year after purchase.  They’ve left little black specks in my hair and ears.
• As mentioned, the MDR-V6 headphones seem to favor the mid-range frequencies somewhat, and this can make my ears ring after prolonged listening.

In sum: I thought the   Sony MDRV6 headphones   a fine purchase for the money as well as my particular listening preferences and applications. The MDR-V6 unit lacks only a small number of the features that I like to find in a truly great pair of headphones.  But this does not disqualify them from the truly great stature.  So I would eagerly buy them again if needed.

I’ll add any new information I discover to this post as it comes in, about these earphones.

Tom Hesley

Related Posts

• Other Stereo Headphones Reviews
• Sony MDR-7509 (MDR7509) Headphones Review
• Sony MDR-V500 (MDRV500) Headphones Review

References

• Sony MDR-V6 (MDRV6) Studio Monitor Pro Headphones   review on CNET 

Other Equipment Reviews

• AT&T 922 Speakerphone Telephone Review

Older women typically do not   date   much    younger men   because they wish to avoid the jokes, ridicule, and statements of concern from friends and parents.  But thse “frends” should keep quiet; especially if that older woman is happily in love. 

Indeed, lasting dating relationships are indeed forming between older women and younger men. We hear more today about the exploits of the so-called cougar (the older woman). Relationships in which a large age difference exists (more than five years) are firing up more often these days, and the participants seem quite happy with their lovers. It’s good to see that age discrimination dropping in the dating arena.

Age differences between older women and younger men become less noticeable as the relationship progresses. Many people, especially those who’ve never dated anyone very far from them in terms of the years of age, harbor prejudices about very much older women or ver mucy younger men.

Of older women, the younger men might say:

• That older woman won’t be able to keep up with me.
• That older woman probably way out of shape underneath her clothes.
• I’ll have to take care of this older woman because he’ll get sick with age way before me.

Of younger men, the older women might say:

• That younger man will still act like a kid and want to hang out in bars.
• That younger man will take foolish risks with his health.
• I’ll feel like that younger man’s father more so than his lover.

Another reason people resist the concept of older women dating much younger men, is that the romance could just be a novelty that wears off quickly. But novelty is found in most any love relationship, especially at the start of it and especially with those new to the dating game. So novelty does not seem like it’s exclusive to dating arrangements involving vastly different ages among the partners. Besides, once you dissipate the novelty by dating a few much older or younger lovers, the next relationship like this you find won’t be so exciting due to the age thing. Once you have a little experience, true love rather than novelty will more likely bind you to your sweetie. So while I would not recommend settling down with the first much older or much young lover you find, I’d also say that novelty is a poor excuse for an older woman not to try dating a younger man, and vice versa.

But younger men often find dating older women more comfortable and comforting. Many younger men believe that the older women are not as moved by money, status, and power; quantities which the younger man typically has less of since he’s still young and thus, has not yet established himself as a successful business man or entrepreneur. This is often true of older women, as many of them have already dated (or in many cases, married) the so-called rich man, and found the experience lacking. They’ve dispelled the myths of increased happiness when having lots of money long ago. Indeed, older women seem more content living off of their own accrued wealth, than do the younger women. So dating older women may be less threatening for younger men.

Her girlfriends may try to talk the older women out of dating younger men because they’re jealous themselves. These naysayer friends resent the older woman’s ability to get with younger men because they’ve tried all their life to acquire the very things (status, money, and power) to impress such a person, yet that person doesn’t seem to be swayed by these symbols of success. The older woman’s happiness befuddles and confounds her nay saying friends.

Another possibility that those opposed to older women dating younger men is that they have baggage. But in this case, an older person’s baggage may in fact be good wisdom that she’s acquired throughout her longer dating life. Experience has taught her how to better make her love relationships successful. Thus, baggage may be bad in fact, but can often be an asset as well. Again, this is no reason to forego dating a much older or younger person, as baggage impacts most relationships to some degree; even when the lovers are the same age. Being the same age means not that the two have similar experiences. One could have been traumatized or dated lots more in her life than the man. All these things create the potential for negative baggage. The fact that the woman is older does not in any measurable way, mean more negative baggage in her dates with younger men.

Some others, for inexplicable reasons, just don’t like the thought of dating someone far removed from their own age for reasons. That’s prejudice. That’s humbug. If you find an older person that sets your heart on fire, then go for it and date them if they’ll have you. To deny them means that you could be denying yourself the happiness and fulfillment in love that so many of us hope to find these days. So don’t discriminate based solely on age. After all, age is usually just a number.

Examples of older women dating younger men:

• Cameron Diaz (Dating Justin Timberlake with a nine-year difference).
• Demi Moore (in 2001, she was 40, and dating a man who was 25).
• Madonna married a younger man.
• Couple on Opera: Liby is 26 years olde than her lover, Joe.  At the airing, she was 52 and Joe was 26 years of age.

Tom Hesley