• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

We measure audio equipment for free!!!

FrantzM

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Mar 12, 2016
Messages
4,337
Likes
7,725
I have one to test. Pain in the neck so far for me to configure so I threw it to the side in disgust. :) Will get back to it one of these days.

No Ray, you can't have it! :D
Was gonna ask but ... you pre-empted by that strike on Ray :(
 

garbulky

Major Contributor
Joined
Feb 14, 2018
Messages
1,510
Likes
827
Hi I didn't see an amp suggestions thread. So I thought I'd post here. I would be quite interested in @amirm measuring the Emotiva Basx A-100 - especially for headphones.
If you haven't heard of it, it's a really interesting headphone/speaker amp that retails for around $200. What makes it unusual is that it has an extremely powerful headphone section which allows for huge amounts of power for headphone use. And why I'm requesting it is
1. They have a 30 day trial.
2. The headphone output can be changed. The stock configuration has dropping resistors in the circuit. This limits the power of the headphones on purpose for headphones that can be damaged. It also makes it less noisy subjectively. Where it gets interesting is that the user is allowed to bypass the resistors by means of an included jumper. This increases the noise floor but also provides huge amounts of power - for the appropriate headphones. I would be interested in the difference in measurements between the two configurations. Also if there is a way to simulate a difficult headphone load and an easy headphone mode and measure which mode performs better that would be great. I use it with my HD600 and I like it. But it's not without its faults - namely noise floor in resistor bypass mode.
 
OP
amirm

amirm

Founder/Admin
Staff Member
CFO (Chief Fun Officer)
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
44,368
Likes
234,384
Location
Seattle Area
Hi I didn't see an amp suggestions thread. So I thought I'd post here. I would be quite interested in @amirm measuring the Emotiva Basx A-100 - especially for headphones.
We have one for low cost amps: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/500-amplifiers-to-test-and-review.2238/. I have bought a number of those units recommended but not the Emotiva.

As it happens I landed on the Z review guy's youtube video on this amp and using it with headphones without the voltage divider as you mention. Given the low price I am inclined to get it at some point and test.
 

sofrep811

Active Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
253
Likes
319
If I send you my Audient Id14 would you care to test it? I know it's not Hi-Fi, but I'm pretty amazed at the headphone amp alone.

overview
 

sofrep811

Active Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2016
Messages
253
Likes
319
Sure. Give me a few weeks to get through my large backlog and then let's coordinate its shipment. Thanks for offering it!

Good deal. I just purchased some JBL 305P MKII over those new Adam budget models. Not sure what trickle down Harmon offers to JBL, but these are keepers for me. Only $324 and if I don't like, I can return within 45 days at Guitar Center. This is all due to downsizing recently and going minimalist--on purpose but also for reasons of my studio I live in. Let me know and I'll send it to you boxed and ready.
 

scibry

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2018
Messages
36
Likes
41
I have a Dragonfly Red, if you'd be interested. I know the black didn't measure all that well, and the dac stage appears on paper to be the same, but the analog section would be different.
 

bakker_be

Active Member
Joined
May 20, 2018
Messages
188
Likes
115
Location
Belgium
Last edited:

Lewis Jordan

Member
Joined
May 17, 2018
Messages
7
Likes
2
Yes, you read the title right. If you have audio gear that you like to see objectively measured with professional equipment, we (I) may be interested in doing that for you and our readers.

There is so little objective data on equipment today. Even if you are not an "objectivists" it pays to contribute to gathering some data to weed out poorly engineering products of which, there are many. Electronic design and building of audio equipment has become much easier today, allowing so many unqualified people to get in the business and building potentially unsafe and non-performant equipment. It is important for data to show such poor practices.

At the same time, there are also superbly designed equipment and they deserve standing out from the crowd and dust of all the other gear.

Also of interest is the proliferation of so many audio tweaks including many for digital and computer based audio. Previous assumption has been that what they do is not "measureable." Our record so far shows that we can easily measure their contributions if any exists. Indeed we have found a number of cases where these products actually injected noise and distortion into audio path where non existed before!

I set out originally to purchase and measure equipment myself. Alas, the budget required is massive. I will continue to contribute out of my own pocket to purchase gear but no sense in spending my limited dollars on what some of you may already own.

For convenience sake, the program likely works best for small and lighter gear where shipping and transport is easy. That rules out speakers, large amplifiers, etc, leaving devices that can be shipped reasonably for $20 to $30. In many cases I am willing to pay out of my own pocket to return the gear. So the only cost to you would be shipping to me.

This program has been informally working in the last few months and very well. I have measured and published a number of reviews and measurements with loaned equipment.

If you are interested in participating, all you have to do is "start a conversation with me" by clicking on my name/avatar and we can work out the logistics. Please note that in most cases I need to make the time to measure things so you will be without the gear for a week or two. Possibly more. But we can coordinate that in the prior arrangement. If it is equipment of high interest, I can literally turn around the view in a day or two.

Also, there is some risk of gear getting lost, damaged, etc. The type of products we are talking about is quite robust in this regard, but it can still happen. I pay for some insurance when I ship things back to at least recover some of the cost should the post office screw it up. So far we have not had any issues.

So let's join hands and work together to create a large and useful library of objective, reliable and repeatable data for users to make good decisions in purchasing audio equipment, and to guide manufacturers to build better products.

Speaking of manufacturers, I am more than happy to see them participate too and indeed a number have. I make no assurance whatsoever of happy outcome should you loan me the equipment. What I can promise is supporting you in troubleshooting problems that are revealed in my testing and review.

Thanks in advance for those of you who participate.
I am in for anything you desire Sir

Are you in Seattle? Logistics, hmm
 

Sonikku13

New Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
1
Likes
1
I have the Audio-gd NFB-11.28 lying around since I replaced the amp with the Audio-gd NFB-11.38. I'm curious how both of them measure, but I'd have to send them in one at a time, starting with the Audio-gd NFB-11.38.
 
OP
amirm

amirm

Founder/Admin
Staff Member
CFO (Chief Fun Officer)
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
44,368
Likes
234,384
Location
Seattle Area
I have the Audio-gd NFB-11.28 lying around since I replaced the amp with the Audio-gd NFB-11.38. I'm curious how both of them measure, but I'd have to send them in one at a time, starting with the Audio-gd NFB-11.38.
They are highly requested so I would love to measure them. Please "start a conversation" with me if you want to loan them to me and I will provide the mailing information.
 

Haze

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2018
Messages
93
Likes
34
I would love to see a measurement made of the Sennheiser GSX 1000. Its a gamer product but given its price and who makes it I'd love to see what you get for your money.
 
OP
amirm

amirm

Founder/Admin
Staff Member
CFO (Chief Fun Officer)
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
44,368
Likes
234,384
Location
Seattle Area
I would love to see a measurement made of the Sennheiser GSX 1000. Its a gamer product but given its price and who makes it I'd love to see what you get for your money.
Hi there. Welcome to the forum. Saw a youtube video of it a couple of months back and was very interested. It is a gorgeous looking unit.

Alas, I have a ton of stuff to review that has been loaned to me (let alone stuff that I have bought but not reviewed). So give me 3-4 weeks and then remind me and I will purchase and review.
 

Haze

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2018
Messages
93
Likes
34
Hi there. Welcome to the forum. Saw a youtube video of it a couple of months back and was very interested. It is a gorgeous looking unit.

Alas, I have a ton of stuff to review that has been loaned to me (let alone stuff that I have bought but not reviewed). So give me 3-4 weeks and then remind me and I will purchase and review.
Thanks for the welcome, and will do!
 

Sal1950

Grand Contributor
The Chicago Crusher
Forum Donor
Joined
Mar 1, 2016
Messages
14,068
Likes
16,598
Location
Central Fl
Top Bottom