Sadly, I can't because I don't. The simple reason is, so far it wasn't necessary for any plugin I've used or tested, incl. a bunch of Acustica Audio Aquas and some Nebulas (talking of an additionally inserted VU meter here).
All plugins where this mattered had an input control, some an additional VU meter.

BTW, biggest VU fake are Waves CLA compressors because what looks like a VU meter is in fact a peak meter.

 

If you need more accurate loudness readings, a LUFS meter is very useful, even for a mixing setting.

 

Using A VU Meter To Do Gain Staging

Using A VU Meter To Set Your Limiter - Mastering Monday!

 

shouldn't you use ALL CAPS?

 

If you have ever used an analog studio console, multi-track tape recorder or, a analog cassette recorder, you should have a good understanding of why VU Meters exist and, how they function for a given task.

Some easy reading to get you started:

• VU METER: THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF THE PROS
• What Every Producer Needs To Know About Meters When Mixing & Mastering
• VU Meter and Mixing Levels

Just a sample of what can be found with 'using vu meters in modern daws' as a search phrase.

 

So, I do not need them because I can hear it anyways?

Yeah. It's pretty much the exact reason why I do not need any volume metering at all.
Because I can hear it anyways and even better.

I've never understood why I need to see what I can hear in music.

 

"I don't need a meter, man! I have ears! I can hear it, man! Turn the mix up about 6 LU, we got enough headroom!"

 

But how do you do this if you do not use a meter?

 

"can someone explain why you use a VU meter in a daw"

For that authentic analog experience

 

I work with dBu because I like to stay in the real world.

 

0 dBVU...

 

"At the end of the mix, everything is in. Who gives a shit how you get there?!"
– Andrew Scheps (3 Grammy Awards)

 

"I use ma ears, maaan! Oh no, now I have a fader cap in my ear canal!"

 

GAWD!! This joint is turning into KVR.....LOL!!

 

That's some shameless self-promotion Smoove... you bad boyyy

 

Haha. Yeah! Nooo, I wasn't fishing.
Because I'd get nothing probably, due to what I felt I had to say about OP member a while back.
And I knew it was a harsh truth.
But back to this, one can find "the sweet spot" without a VU meter. Easier with plugins that have gain on In and Out, but all our daws have a Gain Utility anyway. I hope!
This is kind of why I don't see that as an answer, regardless of Best!
More importantly, imo, I don't know how it can really be of such help in answer to the OP?
It's a bit...'general' and almost nothing, imo.

 

i think generally it is more than anything else used by people who are 50 or older and have a professional background, i.e. once owned a mixing console with VU meters (or still do)

it is like with everything; when you are used to something, you want to keep it.

i totally prefer LED chains, thought it is of course nice to have an option to display power with different slide times, too.

led based VU meters are still rare in hardware, which is a pity.

 

Hang on a sec folks, maybe I'm misinformed by the topic but basically we have RMS and peak meters, right?

Can't be that hard to find one that does both with custom ballistics, or am I confused here?

 

That's why I think.
But it seems to be a whole science behind different kind of meters and standards, units....

 

On one hand this is correct and most probably a digital RMS meter is sufficient, on the other hand, they work in deed a bit differently.