If you have a good soundcard like an RME ADI-2 Pro, you could consider APx500 FLEX; the same software as the big machines without the $30k dongle. It runs on ASIO.
But the new products need about $1k in yearly software licenses ...
Jan
But the new products need about $1k in yearly software licenses ...
Jan
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Do you really need to own one? Perhaps a sound card or RTX or QuantAsylum box will do most of what you need and you could rent an AP for specific use cases? The APx525 was around $1k-2k a month depending on the vendor I think the last time we rented one at work.
If you plan to measure the output of power amplifiers an AP test box is the much more convenient solution with their isolated inputs and grounds, they can also accommodate much larger input voltages unless you add an input attenuator or Jan’s autoranger. I blew the input of an expensive sound card (luckily not RME expensive) years ago with the wrong attenuator setting.
prism sound dScope may be an option too. software interface is very decent (i am running it under parallels on my macbook with no issues)cor maybe the new averlab too
Actually, that is easy to cheat. The software is free and can read in MS Excel or .csv files ;-)
Jan
@ Patrick, I have two of them, I only need one. I bought both together as a package deal from a local lab that was shutting down.
Make sure to bear in mind that the 2722 does not have live FFT monitoring. Ours gets turned on very rarely on account of this (we only keep it to have the cachet of owning an AP). Our daily workhorses are R+S UPV-B1-B3s. They are on almost all the time (aside from one which needs repair...not looking forward to the bill for that). I haven't had time to work out exactly which is better, but the 2722 gives -115dB THD+N @ 2V / 1KHz, whereas the UPV-B1 is more like 113dB. However, if fed from the 2722, the UPV gives -115... I have to wonder what the UPV would do if you moved the PSU to a separate box... Note that the 555 (according to Sam Groener) does not outperform the THD+N spec of the 2722 @ 1Khz (@ 100 Hz the UPV-B1 bests the 2722). AP didn't beat the 2722 at 1KHz until they released the 555B version.
Yours is nice esp with all the good options (imd, bur) and the USB interface thrown in. ..
I have a Prism dScope III and wouldn't be without it. Just wish I had it earlier🙁 Can do everything the AP can do but a lot cheaper, however I think that Prism has changed their pricing structure and the prices have shot-up but they are now offering the M1 series as an entry level for a lot less. This one on ebay probably won't last long at that price. PRISM Sound dScope Series III - Professional Audio Analyzer & Generator | eBay
cheers
cheers
That is indeed a good deal. I've had a dScope for years and it has some advantages over AP, especially the software is more user-friendly.
But in the end I let it go for a 2722 as the dScope cannot reach the low distortion and noise of an AP.
But in the end I let it go for a 2722 as the dScope cannot reach the low distortion and noise of an AP.
According to this dude it is not far off 😉 NwAvGuy: Testing Methods
But I found the real time updating from the continuous time detectors is more valuable in chasing down problems or setting up equipment rather than chasing down the nth degree of distortion and probably not worth the extra $$$$ of an Audio Precision to do so 😉
What about something current like an APx515B or similar, they should be within your budget if you can afford a used 2722. (I considered going with an entry level APX series unit before I settled on an RTX-6001)
APx515 Audio Analyzer - Audio Precision(C) | The Global Leader
I was a sometime user of an AP2722 which I could have purchased a few years after my employer folded. These are not nearly as easy to use as the System One with it's original System One Dos..
APx515 Audio Analyzer - Audio Precision(C) | The Global Leader
I was a sometime user of an AP2722 which I could have purchased a few years after my employer folded. These are not nearly as easy to use as the System One with it's original System One Dos..
There's a whole heap of later model AP Analyzers on ebay at the moment. Do a search for "audio precision analyzer" 😉
The SYS2700 software is indeed awful. The APx500 software, by contrast, is a true joy to use. AP rewrote the software completely and did it right.
If you do buy an AP, get one that works with a modern computer, i.e. is compatible with the USB interface. According to AP, that's these models:
Tom
I like the Portable One, but you can forget about fancy graphs on pc's. In the other hand, the data you will collect are top notch, 500kHz frequency response, self calibrating, easy to repair. Will do 80% of AP555 for much less.
I run a PP one dual domain 24/96khz since ages cost nothing to maintain. The oscillator is good single tone, the analyser is a simple full dynamic bridge, so you will not crush numbers and I can carry out simple digital measurement too...
regards,
Pierre
I had to replace my PC in the lab, and now the AP USB driver refuses to install. Or rather, Windows 10 Pro says it can't.
I still have a laptop with W10 Pro where I installed the driver years ago and which still works, but it's a pain to have two computers in the lab.
I use the latest software for the AP2722.
When I connect the AP USB interface, it is recognized, and I manually navigate to the driver file folder. Windows starts to install it, but ends with an 'unable to install driver' or similar message.
Anybody here had the saem issue and knows how to fix it?
Jan
I still have a laptop with W10 Pro where I installed the driver years ago and which still works, but it's a pain to have two computers in the lab.
I use the latest software for the AP2722.
When I connect the AP USB interface, it is recognized, and I manually navigate to the driver file folder. Windows starts to install it, but ends with an 'unable to install driver' or similar message.
Anybody here had the saem issue and knows how to fix it?
Jan