Hmmm, to sign up for this or build my own. The struggle is real 😉.
Seems like building my own would be a good segway into learning more about getting better noise/thd performance in analog systems, but..... gotta make a decision soon.
Can fix analog/audio kinda stuff in my sleep, but designing it is a whole different level. 🙂
Anyway.. any advice for someone in my shoes where the price-point is a bit out of their comfort zone? Fwiw, $1k for a analog only dscope would be a no-brainer for me (with the included software interface).
Kinda feel like rock-and a hard place, seems to me this product (and line) will go further/better and more expensive. Wondering what it's value (so to speak) will be in 3-4 years. Not that i'd be looking for something better..
Modular design is nice, and leads to the thought of being able to swap a board to an upgraded model (if it makes sense) in the future.
I am curious how this truly compares to something like the AP or dscope (we have both at work.. older big AP). I'm assuming the processing, so to speak, is done in the prism or ap as opposed to the computer. Or a bit of both.. Then again, i don't really know. Changed many a relay in the dscopes lol, but never had time to sit down and study it.
Conversely, this type of unit is SC in/out with the pc and whatever software doing all the processing. Thoughts on this?
Sorry to ramble...
thanks
Seems like building my own would be a good segway into learning more about getting better noise/thd performance in analog systems, but..... gotta make a decision soon.
Can fix analog/audio kinda stuff in my sleep, but designing it is a whole different level. 🙂
Anyway.. any advice for someone in my shoes where the price-point is a bit out of their comfort zone? Fwiw, $1k for a analog only dscope would be a no-brainer for me (with the included software interface).
Kinda feel like rock-and a hard place, seems to me this product (and line) will go further/better and more expensive. Wondering what it's value (so to speak) will be in 3-4 years. Not that i'd be looking for something better..
Modular design is nice, and leads to the thought of being able to swap a board to an upgraded model (if it makes sense) in the future.
I am curious how this truly compares to something like the AP or dscope (we have both at work.. older big AP). I'm assuming the processing, so to speak, is done in the prism or ap as opposed to the computer. Or a bit of both.. Then again, i don't really know. Changed many a relay in the dscopes lol, but never had time to sit down and study it.
Conversely, this type of unit is SC in/out with the pc and whatever software doing all the processing. Thoughts on this?
Sorry to ramble...
thanks
Five years of development work and testing, you're very unlikely to achieve anything like this level of performance unless you are a very seasoned analog designer with that sort of time on your hands.
Read the rest or at least some part of the thread to get an idea of what is involved.
Performance and features will not be too different in many respects from the APx515 series hardware which is about 6 - 7X as expensive.
You get to use any software you like that is designed to work with typical stereo codecs used with PCs and laptops. (Windows, Linux, and Apple)
Read the rest or at least some part of the thread to get an idea of what is involved.
Performance and features will not be too different in many respects from the APx515 series hardware which is about 6 - 7X as expensive.
You get to use any software you like that is designed to work with typical stereo codecs used with PCs and laptops. (Windows, Linux, and Apple)
No, I wouldn't expect to end up with something rivaling this, sry didnt mean to imply that. Fat chance lol.
I've read the thread pretty thoroughly, it's an impressive piece 🙂.
If budget is really tight you might want to look at the Quantasylum stuff - offers a lot of performance at its price point. Specifically QA-401...
The lowish input limit turned me off, a lot of what I'll use it for is car audio, amps etc.
I'm kind of at the point where I want to diy it (hack an old usbpre2) or purchase something only if I'd be totally happy with it.
Thanks Kevin
I'm kind of at the point where I want to diy it (hack an old usbpre2) or purchase something only if I'd be totally happy with it.
Thanks Kevin
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The auto-ranger is great, but I have soured on PCie and PCI internal sound cards and unisolated USB sound cards because of conducted common mode noise from the computer power supplies, etc. Both the RTX and QA401 offer full USB isolation from the computer doing the work - this I think makes life much simpler for those of us striving to make good low noise measurements.
External attenuators are easily made, but that said the RTX will handle up to 100Vrms and has protected inputs. Hint Hint.. 😛
Haha, fair enough. Well, I got my parts for the divider in today (similar scheme to sound card interface schematic), I'll see what I can do then make up my mind... 🙂
Hi bnae38,
I've used both types of scopes. I prefer the box with no PC. I use an analogue and MSO on my bench. For you, an analogue scope would be the best instrument. Cheaper too.
The RTX is an audio specialised instrument, more like a signal analyser than a 'scope. I think it's the best I might be able to afford.
-Chris
I've used both types of scopes. I prefer the box with no PC. I use an analogue and MSO on my bench. For you, an analogue scope would be the best instrument. Cheaper too.
The RTX is an audio specialised instrument, more like a signal analyser than a 'scope. I think it's the best I might be able to afford.
-Chris
Yeah, I'm more interested in audio range fft to measure distortion, noise etc. I've got an oscope.
You too David? How did that come about? I thought you were gainfully employed. Did you know Derek?
-Chris
-Chris
If there are any upgrades to daughterboards available in the future would they be user replaceable, or is the warranty void if the cover is opened at all?
Hi Chris,
Unless the connection was made to a prepared set of terminals, I would think that you would stand an excellent chance of destroying the signal to noise ratio of the instrument. I can't see how they could warranty that kind of situation.
Maybe later on they can run a trade-in program for the early adopters to a later and more feature-rich design. I wouldn't be at all adverse to seeing a larger metal case in the future. I would make room for it on the bench. Larger & heavier cases are easier to handle when setting up for tests anyway.
-Chris
Unless the connection was made to a prepared set of terminals, I would think that you would stand an excellent chance of destroying the signal to noise ratio of the instrument. I can't see how they could warranty that kind of situation.
Maybe later on they can run a trade-in program for the early adopters to a later and more feature-rich design. I wouldn't be at all adverse to seeing a larger metal case in the future. I would make room for it on the bench. Larger & heavier cases are easier to handle when setting up for tests anyway.
-Chris
Chris through the 90s and early 2000 I was part owner in a repair shop partnership. I can't remember who got us on with Alchemy but we did do warranty service for them. I think it was Gary of Taylor Marketing. We had a lot of high end audio partnerships at the time.
@chris719
If daughterboards become available (from RTX) I think that it should also be user replaceable. We will probably make it so that if the cover is opened, the calibration willl be void, but the warranty will still be OK, as long as the unit has not been tampered with.
If daughterboards become available (from RTX) I think that it should also be user replaceable. We will probably make it so that if the cover is opened, the calibration willl be void, but the warranty will still be OK, as long as the unit has not been tampered with.