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Dayton Audio DATS v3 | An Absolute Must Have (Video Review)

hardisj

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This one has been in the works for a while. The DATS v3 is a product that I strongly, truly believe everyone should have in their toolbox. There are even many questions and discussions here on ASR that would be immensely helped by a simple impedance sweep.

In this video I discuss the often used purpose of measuring a drive unit's T/S parameters as well as provide some other examples of how you can easily find internal enclosure resonance as well as a few other highlights.

I also encourage you to stay through until the end. ;)

 
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Thank you for putting together that overview!

My plan for using the DATS is to find out what the minimum impedance is for the speakers that I have.

I had been on the lookout for a Technics SE-C01 "mini" amplifier and recently came across one and I want to play it safe with the speakers I use with it since it says to only use speakers with an 8ohm minimum.
 
Cool. I didn’t know there was such a gizmo.
Thanks, @hardisj.

I use an Analog Discovery 2, for similar purposes. Less convenient maybe, but more general purpose.

Kef q150 - open and sealed port impedance measurement.


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This one has been in the works for a while. The DATS v3 is a product that I strongly, truly believe everyone should have in their toolbox. There are even many questions and discussions here on ASR that would be immensely helped by a simple impedance sweep.

In this video I discuss the often used purpose of measuring a drive unit's T/S parameters as well as provide some other examples of how you can easily find internal enclosure resonance as well as a few other highlights.

I also encourage you to stay through until the end. ;)

Thanks for the review. I've used all 3 versions of DATS and have generally been happy with them. However, they've all had one quirk that's very frustrating if you want to measure inductor values. Every version has consistently read a little high--a .33 mH will come out something like .345. That's not much of a problem for series circuits, but it can be for some shunt circuits. I'm not sure why PE can't fix the problem, and it's really only only important to crossover designers, but it's kind of a nuisance for me.
 
How do DATS determine the impedance? Big series resistor? Or tiny series resistor?
 
Hi, a quick question for Dats v3 users:

When I export an impedance response measurement to a txt file, I get impedance data for about 340 frequency points between 1Hz-20kHz. Is there a way of increasing the frequency resolution? The dats v3 claims it measures 30,000 data points, though I'm not really sure what it means by that.

Thanks,
Jon
 
I've used all 3 versions of DATS and have generally been happy with them. However, they've all had one quirk that's very frustrating if you want to measure inductor values. Every version has consistently read a little high--a .33 mH will come out something like .345.
Based on what other measurement? An inductance meter? Calculation from impedance curve? Not arguing, just wondering. And wondering if you're measuring air core or cheapie metal core or ???
 
Very late post, but I only discovered this device a couple of days ago when I randomly came across Erin's review video on YouTube.

Just had one delivered from Amazon today. It's an amazing little device. Only really played around with it so far. Did the leads zero and resistance calibrations and measured a bunch of known values capacitors and inductors. It's exceptionally accurate. Looking forward to measuring a few drivers and running some proper impedance sweeps.

This will be a permanent addition to my measurement toolkit.
 
While working on a new project I found your Youtube. You made the mass added feature seem way more easy than I thought, that helps.
I need suggestion for professionally gathering data on this project. My project includes some vintage Jensen cabinets that I am putting through a major modification and upgrade to house SB Acoustics 12s, Then I plan to build an enclosure to house 2 SB Acoustics Carbon mid woofer and the Morel CAT 308 ( mounted in a CNC waveguide using the shared Zaph profile.
I plan to capture the following. What would you add or suggest?

1. Using DATs V3 to capture free air on all drivers pre break-in.
2. Moving to this if all drivers show no signs of any manufacturing issue.
3. Use DATs to run the 12s a while, let rest and do another set of free airs but include mass this time.
4. Install in cabinet to be used and then remeasure the 12s more and also try to find any box resonance or change any port length if needed.

I have more enclosure planning and theory to work on before I make the MTM enclosures that will sit on the 12s.
My experience is in many technologies but Xovr design is a hill I am climbing. I did do a Polk T50 mod in the past with online help for the Xovr and those are dang good for what they are.
So far I have DATS V3, Dayton measuring microphone, Firebox, 2 car amps for testing purposes. I am thinking about getting an active crossover like the Behringer just for research into where and what my passive xovr should be heading towards. I really want to upgrade my measuring routine and technique using REW and the equipment I have. I may start a thread on my project if there is interest here.
 
I have the DATS V3 and it is accurate enough for what I do and it is super convenient. Unless someone is just going to use it one time, the $130 isn't cost-prohibitive.

BUT...you can build an impedance jig for $5 to $30 dollars assuming you have a 2-in, 2-out USB audio interface. And use ARTA, REW or VituixCAD for impedance and T/S parameters.

An advantage is: you can use multiple voltage outputs (whereas the DATS is fixed at one low level)
I was going to suggest that another advantage of the jig is that you can perform the dual added mass method (REW and VituixCAD) or even the extended inductance method (in VituixCAD) but I guess you can just take the raw impedance measurements with the DATS and feed them into REW or VituixCAD.
 
I've only used DATS 3 once, because that's the duration of time that is actually worked. I did not own the unit, but no manner of troubleshooting fixed it, it just generated a ton of noise in it's measurements. My jig made from parts lying around works great every time. I really wish I could have figured out what went wrong with the DATS unit.
 
I've only used DATS 3 once, because that's the duration of time that is actually worked. I did not own the unit, but no manner of troubleshooting fixed it, it just generated a ton of noise in it's measurements. My jig made from parts lying around works great every time. I really wish I could have figured out what went wrong with the DATS unit.
I bet Dayton would help you out. I have used mine a bunch. It was so helpful on my 1st xovr work and many other projects.
 
I used the DATS V2 for years and then sold it and got the V3 when it came out, 5 years ago and it's still going strong.

But I'm still a proponent of DIY jigs.

 
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I've only used DATS 3 once, because that's the duration of time that is actually worked. I did not own the unit, but no manner of troubleshooting fixed it, it just generated a ton of noise in it's measurements. My jig made from parts lying around works great every time. I really wish I could have figured out what went wrong with the DATS unit.

Mine only worked intermittently -- after a back and forth with PE tech support, I just returned it for a refund. Too bad -- just being able to ballpark capacitance and inductance measurements would have been worth the thing's very modest price. I might give it another try given that the one I got was probably outright defective, but so far I remain too spooked to pull the trigger again.
 
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