Recommendations for test equipment

jmikes · 15th November 2004, 12:37 PM

I'd like to buy sufficient equipment to test my speaker and crossover designs. What do I need and where can I find mid-price equipment?

jackinnj · 15th November 2004, 01:47 PM

a soundcard -- for one thing.

a really nice instrument which sells for a song is the HP 3581 Wave Analyzer -- these sell for ~$50 and are always available on EBay. The HP3581 has 0.1uV sensitivity, a tracking generator, high and user-switchable selectivity, user-selectable tracking rates, etc. Dynamic range is 90dB -- so if you are doing distortion tests it isn't quite an Audio Precision item with 140dB of dynamic range, but you can make a 60dB passive notch filter and get really spectacular results. Occasionally these also show up via Canadian sellers so you will save on the post.

There is also Pen-Plotter output on the rear terminals -- if you have even a modicum of programming skills you can connect the pen-plotter output to an ADC card (like the MacDAC) and log the data on your computer.

A couple years ago when I broke my ankle (badly -- immobile for 3 months) I scanned and OCR'd the manual -- a few of the links need "repairing" but you'll get the basic idea -- http://www.tech-diy.com/HP3581/hp3581.htm

jackinnj · 16th November 2004, 06:54 PM

I fixed the links to the HP3581 Manual:
http://www.tech-diy.com/HP3581/Hewle...ckard%20HP.htm

Ultima Thule · 16th November 2004, 07:21 PM

Check out my post, might be of interest for you.

15th November 2004, 12:37 PM	#1
jmikes diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boot Hill	Recommendations for test equipment I'd like to buy sufficient equipment to test my speaker and crossover designs. What do I need and where can I find mid-price equipment?

16th November 2004, 07:21 PM	#4
Ultima Thule diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Koskenkorva Land	Check out my post, might be of interest for you. __________________ "If transistors are blueberries and FETs are strawberries, then tubes must be.. pears" Michael 29th January 2010

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Test Equipment	jwatts	Swap Meet	1	18th November 2008 02:46 AM
bench equipment recommendations for newbie	hjcooper	Instruments and Amps	2	28th March 2007 03:07 PM
Soldering equipment recommendations?	geolemon	Solid State	60	4th June 2004 04:58 AM
What's this test equipment for??	hugobross	Solid State	7	15th November 2002 03:54 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

15th November 2004, 01:47 PM	#2
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	a soundcard -- for one thing. a really nice instrument which sells for a song is the HP 3581 Wave Analyzer -- these sell for ~$50 and are always available on EBay. The HP3581 has 0.1uV sensitivity, a tracking generator, high and user-switchable selectivity, user-selectable tracking rates, etc. Dynamic range is 90dB -- so if you are doing distortion tests it isn't quite an Audio Precision item with 140dB of dynamic range, but you can make a 60dB passive notch filter and get really spectacular results. Occasionally these also show up via Canadian sellers so you will save on the post. There is also Pen-Plotter output on the rear terminals -- if you have even a modicum of programming skills you can connect the pen-plotter output to an ADC card (like the MacDAC) and log the data on your computer. A couple years ago when I broke my ankle (badly -- immobile for 3 months) I scanned and OCR'd the manual -- a few of the links need "repairing" but you'll get the basic idea -- http://www.tech-diy.com/HP3581/hp3581.htm

16th November 2004, 06:54 PM	#3
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	I fixed the links to the HP3581 Manual: http://www.tech-diy.com/HP3581/Hewle...ckard%20HP.htm

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)