Woofer tester

[jerryo]

As an alternative to buying a Parts Express Woofer Tester does anyone in the
UK own one that I could hire for a little while to measure some speaker drivers to confirm T/S Parameters.
I thought I'd ask before committing to buy as I will not need one long term.

Thanks

 

[speakerdoctor]

You don't need a woofer tester to measure woofers. Before they even existed VOM's were the common tool used. If you have a VOM you can go to a book store or library and get a book on loudspeakers. David Weems and Ray Alden are two authors who've written books on loudspeakers. Each has the formulas and worked out examples.
Or, you may even find a few T/S calculators on the web. You'll still need a VOM though. They are much cheaper than a WT2 or 3.
I used a VOM long before the woofer testers became available.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

As an alternative to buying a Parts Express Woofer Tester does anyone in the
UK own one that I could hire for a little while to measure some speaker drivers to confirm T/S Parameters.
I thought I'd ask before committing to buy as I will not need one long term.

Thanks

I can't say enough good things about the woofer tester. I use it *constantly*. Besides measuring the T/S of a speaker, you can check the impedance of a finished speaker, measure your inductors, measure resistors, etc.

Sooooooo handy.

I used to do it the hard way, using a jig, but the WT2 is such a time saver.

 

[speakerdoctor]

Yes, the WT2 is indeed a very handy tool for the repeat user. However, it's not a practical expense for the one-and-done DIY'r.

What we don't know is whether or not the OP is planning to be one of those. If not, he'd be better off using the VOM and formulas as I suggested earlier.

If he is, start saving your money now.

 

[bwaslo]

you need more than a vom. You'd need a variable frequency sinewave souce too.

 

[speakerdoctor]

you need more than a vom. You'd need a variable frequency sinewave souce too.

Yup, you're right. I haven't done it in so long I forgot about the need for the function generator.

 

[jerryo]

I realise that it is possible to calculate "some" of the parameters but it is a long winded affair compared to the Woofer Tester, plus you can print out the results and import the files to other software packages for speaker design.
I have a few drive units that I would like to measure accurately but do not anticipate buying more in the future so to hire/borrow the tester for a while would be brilliant.

So if anyone that is UK based has one for hire or to sell second hand then I would be very interested.

Cheers

 

[DrBoar]

The sine waves are easy to get there is many of them to download for free on the net. If you have an iPhone there is the free app AudioSigGen.

The problem is the multimeter at least the cheap ones for measuring AC is more up to the 50-60 Hz range of power sockets not all the way up to several kHz range. So measuring a woofer might work out OK but tweeters not so.

 

[balerit]

Make your own:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors-bazaar/215967-diy-loudspeaker-construction.html

 

[wintermute]

I used to recommend speaker workshop for doing impedance measurements, but the last woofers I tested gave odd results far from manufacturers specs. I think it can't cope with speakers with very light cones.

Instead I tried REW and it worked very well, giving results very close to manufacturers specs (and without the hideous learning curve of speaker workshop).

I use a wallin Jig II, but if you want to do it on the cheap then a simple cable jig like claudio's will do the trick nicely. Cables

You need a sound card with both line in and line out for the test, so most laptops are out, but pretty much any computer these days comes with sound on board that will do the trick.

Tony.

 

[jerryo]

Hi balerit,
had a look at your Bookworm Website. Some interesting offerings you have there. I might make a purchase one of these days.
Cheers

 

[balerit]

Hi jerryo

Thanks, yes I decided to put my ideas and work into a couple of books as I feel that there is too much hype regarding the design and building of hi fi equipment. There is no magic involved and it's a matter of applying the good old reliable info that seems to have been watered down or lost. I am also considering a diy book on making the actual test equipment as well, with schematics and board layouts. For me hifi is a craft and requires craftsmanship and dedication to building something special, not some slap dash over the counter stuff. Also i don't believe in computer testing of speakers but rather the tried and tested hands-on way. While my designs look plain, its up to the individual to make theirs unique and i have seen some wonderful looking stuff out there.

Regards
Mac