Abstract: A plurality of differential amplifier stages in cascaded in a directly coupled configuration to provide substantial signal gain. The first few stages are cascode coupled to a plural input differential signal combiner which has a single differential output that feeds a full wave differential peak detector. The peak detector therefore has an output that rises as a log function of the signal input. This signal-related voltage is then fed to a differential dc amplifier which in turn drives a meter that indicates the log of the input signal strength. The amplifier cascade is stabilized by a dc feedback loop.