Test Equipment and Software?

[ButtonPuncher]

Hi Everyone,
Is there a specific place on this forum where people show what equipment and software that they use for testing? I want to be able to test amplifiers specifically.

I have a shelving unit of various sound reinforcement amplifiers, car stereo amps, and home stereo receivers. I want to see how my old Class AB car stereo amps compare to my new Class D amps as for a sound quality goes. For the home/pro audio gear, I want to check the equipment for noise and distortion.

I already have a decent Tascam 192kHz USB DAC/ADC. So I'm guessing that I can get started with that.
I also have non-inductive load resistors, a Rigol scope, and various DMMs.

I've read about the Multi-Instrument Pro software which isn't too terribly expensive.
What other options are there?


Thanks,
Ben

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Hi Everyone,
Is there a specific place on this forum where people show what equipment and software that they use for testing? I want to be able to test amplifiers specifically.

I have a shelving unit of various sound reinforcement amplifiers, car stereo amps, and home stereo receivers. I want to see how my old Class AB car stereo amps compare to my new Class D amps as for a sound quality goes. For the home/pro audio gear, I want to check the equipment for noise and distortion.

I already have a decent Tascam 192kHz USB DAC/ADC. So I'm guessing that I can get started with that.
I also have non-inductive load resistors, a Rigol scope, and various DMMs.

I've read about the Multi-Instrument Pro software which isn't too terribly expensive.
What other options are there?


Thanks,
Ben

As for software people usually use either of these free softwares

REW

REW room acoustics and audio device measurement and analysis software

REW is free software for room acoustic measurement, loudspeaker measurement and audio device measurement and analysis

www.roomeqwizard.com

Or

Multitone Analyzer

Multitone - Loopback Analyzer for Audio | Distort documentation

Multitone is currently in beta test. Use at your own risk!

distortaudio.org

Both authors are also members here.

Yes start with your ADC to get familiar with the software and procedures.

 

[staticV3]

REW does most of what you need and is completely free.

For testing Class D Amps, you will also need a Class D filter (AUX-0025 or similar).

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Maybe start with a loopback test of your ADC to determine its FR, Noise and THD.

… and be careful with “bridged” amps as the “- out” is not ground and the magic smoke might get out quickly.

 

[OldHvyMec]

the magic smoke might get out quickly

LOL, I know, where did that come from? Baby dragon got in the box. Oops!

At least it's not human trials. NEXT! Don't be shy, have a seat. Don't let the
screaming distract your concentration.

 

[ButtonPuncher]

Thanks for the input everyone! I haven't checked out REW in FOREVER. Yet another reason to get familiar with it.

I did see that other software that's in development. So cool to have the authors on the forum!

REW does most of what you need and is completely free.

For testing Class D Amps, you will also need a Class D filter (AUX-0025 or similar).

Ooof. $1,500 brick wall filter. This is just a hobby for me. Are there cheaper alternatives? I'm guessing a simple 30kHz RC filter isn't enough?

 

[NTK]

Thanks for the input everyone! I haven't checked out REW in FOREVER. Yet another reason to get familiar with it.

I did see that other software that's in development. So cool to have the authors on the forum!



Ooof. $1,500 brick wall filter. This is just a hobby for me. Are there cheaper alternatives? I'm guessing a simple 30kHz RC filter isn't enough?

Please see this post.

Why ADC converters do not use proper input anti-alias filters?

Why ADC converters do not use proper anti-alias filters? As we all know, the Nyquist theorem states a necessary condition of proper sampling - input signal must not contain frequencies above Fs/2, half of sampling frequency. If this condition is violated, we are experiencing alias frequencies...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[staticV3]

Ooof. $1,500 brick wall filter. This is just a hobby for me. Are there cheaper alternatives? I'm guessing a simple 30kHz RC filter isn't enough?

Take a look at this thread:

DIY amp testing (with AES17 filter)

Update May 2024: Version 2 of the board is now the default at https://github.com/mattclarkdotnet/aes17_filter_25/ v1 had good performance that equalled the AP SYS-AUX-0025. With the help and feedback of @sarieri @Hipocrates and others V2 improved high power handling, tightened tolerances...

www.audiosciencereview.com