BDS PP-131 Spectrum Analyzer

[Sernyl]

• Larger than my ADI-2 Pro FS R.
• Costs as much as a mini PC with Foobar (choose the display among many available "components").

 

[amirm]

It baffles me a bit why these kind of gimmicks are nowadays quite frequently reviewed here but then again "to each his own", and it seems some folks really do like the light show and are willing to send their devices to be tested. And yeah, "frequently" can also be interpreted in many ways so do not take this as an offence.

It has real uses. Let's say you are getting no signal out of your headphone or speaker. With this device, you know right away if it is the source or the amp. You also learn quickly the spectrum of the music you play and with it, learn if that is the source of distortion. With streaming music, doing this offline is more difficult now. I use both of these features all the time in my desktop setup that has these included.

If the device was accurate and acted as an instrument, you could also use it for calibration, level setting, gain, etc. The hope was that this device would do it.

For entertainment, there is also joy to see real-time changes in the display with your music, e.g. when the dynamics arrive.

I suppose in an age when music consumption is a background task, it is not of value. But as a focused experience, many of us like it and something we miss that we had in analog days of the past.

 

[amirm]

Costs as much as a mini PC with Foobar (choose the display among many available "components").

Software solutions have latency which takes fair bit of fun away. There is something that "clicks" when the pulses of light are completely in sync with music. Compare that visualization to that of your RME and you will see what I mean. The RME is nice in that regard but the display is so tiny so not useful for lay back, speaker listening.

 

[kyuu]

On the picture of the back, there appears to be a small hard-to-see toggle labeled "AGC". Did you try that?

Yes indeed:

 

[amirm]

On the picture of the back, there appears to be a small hard-to-see toggle labeled "AGC". Did you try that?

I started testing before I got sick and now don't recall. Will test that tonight before shipping it back.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

All I want is some cool visualization without sonic artifacts. How hard can it be?

Apparently, very hard.

Pretty easy with RME DigiCheck NG (assuming, of course, you’re using an RME DAC). This is a 5” display, but you can use any size you wish.

 

[PoorishDecision]

thanks i hate it.

 

[dougi]

I want one with a SPDIF input, but can't seem to find one at all. My RME ADI-2 PRO has failed and needs repair.

 

[amirm]

So who is interested in a perfectly executed one and what features would you want in it?

 

[xanalog]

Thank you for the review, @amirm,
You should have added a 'disclaimer' to your review that you are against grade-inflation when it comes to visual aides (i.e. VU meters, spectral displays).

So who is interested in a perfectly executed one and what features would you want in it?

If this thing was truly accurate, and designed/executed as an audio spectrum analyzer w/calibration capability: Maybe worth it at under $200.
I have a cheezy, multi-color LED bar-display under each speaker, just for visual effects.

 

[dtaylo1066]

It has real uses. Let's say you are getting no signal out of your headphone or speaker. With this device, you know right away if it is the source or the amp. You also learn quickly the spectrum of the music you play and with it, learn if that is the source of distortion. With streaming music, doing this offline is more difficult now. I use both of these features all the time in my desktop setup that has these included.

If the device was accurate and acted as an instrument, you could also use it for calibration, level setting, gain, etc. The hope was that this device would do it.

For entertainment, there is also joy to see real-time changes in the display with your music, e.g. when the dynamics arrive.

I suppose in an age when music consumption is a background task, it is not of value. But as a focused experience, many of us like it and something we miss that we had in analog days of the past.

I basically intoned that it is not for me, but for others go for it if they like it. In 1971 I had a huge wooden box with blinking, colored incandescent light bulbs and a plastic cover that served as a diffuser. Psychedelic room lighting, while as a teen I blasted King Crimson or Grand Funk Railroad. LEDs are better and it relates to the signal. No harm, no foul in the signal path.

 

[amirm]

I basically intoned that it is not for me, but for others go for it if they like it. In 1971 I had a huge wooden box with blinking, colored incandescent light bulbs and a plastic cover that served as a diffuser. Psychedelic room lighting, while as a teen I blasted King Crimson or Grand Funk Railroad. LEDs are better and it relates to the signal. No harm, no foul in the signal path.

I built one of those back in early 1970s when I was in high-school. Almost killed myself with the triac in there with full mains on it. Fortunately it shorted out to the chassis before killing me. Dad was wondering why the circuit breaker popped. Put it in a speaker box with said plexiglass and took it to birthday parties. Together with mix (cassette) tape. Made me very popular. The thing only had four bands though with much overlap. So nothing this good.

 

[OrangeWalrus]

So who is interested in a perfectly executed one and what features would you want in it?

I would settle for one that just fixes the things you found wrong with it.

 

[dtaylo1066]

I built one of those back in early 1970s when I was in high-school. Almost killed myself with the triac in there with full mains on it. Fortunately it shorted out to the chassis before killing me. Dad was wondering why the circuit breaker popped. Put it in a speaker box with said plexiglass and took it to birthday parties. Together with mix (cassette) tape. Made me very popular. The thing only had four bands though with much overlap. So nothing this good.

I knew nothing of electricity or circuits at the time, and in 8th grade bought it for $25 from two single guys who lived in an apartment in the complex we were in before our house was ready. They partied and used it, but got tired of it. It must have been 3 feet long by 20 inches wide and a foot deep. Those bulbs were large and got hot, but the circuit never failed, and I have no idea what in 1971 sent the signal to the various bulbs. We moved from Cali to New Jersey a year later, but I have no recollection what I did with the thing. Maybe gave it to a friend. It was in a stained pine box. Groovy. The plexiglass had a tight prismatic pattern which added a stellar sparkling effect. Clearly, Amir, I was not alone in my 8th and 9th grade coolness -- or was it madness?

 

[RogerSmith]

Looking at this device let's favour the conclusion that some things, in this case frequencies, should better not be analysed.

 

[shuppatsu]

The [$359] PP-131 gets a lot of things right at a bargain price for its feature list.

My Wiim Amp was $240. Shall we compare feature lists? Granted, my Wiim Amp doesn't turn my living room into the interior of a 1994 Acura Integra LS with aftermarket head unit.

 

[PristineSound]

Let me tell you what I really think.

I call stuff like this Extraneous Faux Sophistication.

Cheap looking, tacky, gaudy, low class.

And low performance.

 

[rirelien]

So, to paraphrase youknowwhom - it's a PINO (professional in name only)

Black casing, so it's actually... PINOt noir.

 

[amirm]

Cheap looking, tacky, gaudy, low class.

None of that applies to this box in person.

 

[xanalog]

None of that applies to this box in person.

Surgery was a success but the patient... well... did not make it!