DIY Audio Analyzer with AK5397/AK5394A and AK4490

[1audio]

For my primary test systems (the ones I don't want to constantly fiddle with) I run XP in multiboot setups. XP can automatically sync settings between the software and the soundcard. Win 7 and Win 10 not so. For testing Bluetooth headphones this is really important.

 

[soongsc]

Is it possible to get new notebooks with WinXP drivers these days?

 

[1audio]

Depends. I use older notebooks for that usually. I can get a 2 gen old Dell Latitude w/I7 for less than $200 and then get an SSD + ram pretty cheap. It's more than enough performance for most of this stuff. There are tricks for keeping XP current. XP is still a mainstay in lots of ATM's and kiosks. Those are expensive machines and the big companies that own them do not want to just buy new machines because Microsoft wants to ditch XP.

How to get new Windows XP updates for free until 2019 with a Registry hack | Expert Reviews

 

[soongsc]

Looked at this series, is there a particular model you could recommend? I saw a E6320 with SSD, but with Win7.

 

[1audio]

I have been using an E6320. it came without drives. If you can get a Dell XP install disk it all works pretty easily. Mine multiboot XP and Win 10 fine, along with Ubuntu. That's not really necessary. Lots of XP support is going away but you can get antivirus from AVG and Opera works fine on XP. You can get a USB 3 docking station for that as well but I'm not sure if it supports USB 3 in XP.

 

[soongsc]

I have a few WinXP install disks, is in necessary to get DELL install disks?

 

[1audio]

The dell disk has the drivers and automatically sets up the software key.

 

[soongsc]

Thanks for the tip, looks like a good start to replace my aging ASUS with PCMCIA card system.

 

[soongsc]

Has anyone been able to get RTX to run with WinXP?

 

[soongsc]

I also came across this during a search.
Noise Using an APx Analyzer with a Notebook Computer - Audio Precision

 

[1audio]

I have but I needed an older version of the Thesycon driver that supports XP. Then you need to hack it with the VID and PID of the RTX USB interface. Not trivial but not too hard. Thesycon stopped supporting XP for some reason. The control interface also works on XP.

 

[mbrennwa]

I would like to find Mac software that can do at least CSD and wavelets out of the box. MLS signal is desirable. Don’t know any software that currently use these.

MATAA. FuzzMeasure. Not sure about REW.

In real work, I use SoundEasy and Ultimate Equalizer from Bodzio software for speaker development since the process is quite integrated. Do not know any other software that replaces this.
However, it quite refreshing to find this issue with sample rate switching, I think I will explore it some more.

I am not saying to replace your software. Just try different software and different operting systems to figure out where your problem comes from.

 

[zfe]

I would like to find Mac software that can do at least CSD and wavelets out of the box. MLS signal is desirable. Don’t know any software that currently use these.
In real work, I use SoundEasy and Ultimate Equalizer from Bodzio software for speaker development since the process is quite integrated. Do not know any other software that replaces this.
However, it quite refreshing to find this issue with sample rate switching, I think I will explore it some more.

You could try to run your Windows software on Mac via WINE WineHQ - Run Windows applications on Linux, BSD, Solaris and macOS.
This works well for many programs, including ARTA and AudioTester (not working is e.g. the firmware update this way).
You do not need to install a driver.
However the Mac does not recognize the sample rate and bit depth settings of the windows software. You need to set these manually with Utilities/Audio-Midi-Setup.

 

[soongsc]

I have parallels, I feel that the additional io layer is not so good for audio...

 

[zfe]

I have parallels, I feel that the additional io layer is not so good for audio...

It is not exactly an additional layer, Wine is not an emulation. Even games are claimed to run with good performance.
I use it to test ATRA and Audiotester and it works well.

 

[soongsc]

Interesting, maybe I should also give it a try.

 

[SilentGrace]

harmonic

I test my RTX6001 by loop,i get some high level harmonic,is that normal?
1st PIC is 0/0dBV ,audiotester set 0dBFS.
2nd PIC is 0/0dBV ,audiotester set -3dBFS.
3nd PIC is 0/0dBV ,audiotester set -10dBFS.
4th PIC is 20/10dBV ,audiotester set -13dBFS.
5th PIC is 20/10dBV ,audiotester set -20dBFS.

 

[1audio]

Levels close to full scale will not be as clean. Try to measure linearity at -10 dBFS or below. The noise floor is a limit at those levels.

 

[SilentGrace]

Levels close to full scale will not be as clean. Try to measure linearity at -10 dBFS or below. The noise floor is a limit at those levels.

In the usermanual I see the DAC THD should be typical -124dB @1kHz @0dBV,so what should I set for this values?
And I find some replys said they can get THD@1kHz&0dBFS almost -130dB.

 

[SilentGrace]

And how to shut off one of the analyzer channel completely for the best result?