Dayton Audio DATS LA Loudspeaker Analyzer Review

[shadyJ]

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Dayton Audio's DATS LA Loudspeaker tester is a powerful new way for audio enthusiasts on a budget to measure their loudspeakers and speaker drivers. It has a built-in 100-watt amplifier that can be used to test loudspeakers over a wide range of signal levels, but it can do a lot more than just that. It can capture Thiele/Small parameters easily. It can check drivers for alignment problems that cause “buzz and rub” issues. It can measure the electrical properties of insulators, capacitors, and resistors — the components that make up a crossover circuit. And what really intrigues me is that Dayton Audio claims it can measure driver motor and suspension symmetry. Previously, that sort of loudspeaker analysis had to be done with Klippel Analyzer systems, which use lasers and cost many tens of thousands of dollars, so if Dayton Audio has found a way to do it with a $700 system, that is great news for anyone who wants to get into the loudspeaker measuring game but doesn’t have the money or space for a Klippel system.

So how well does it work? Read our review to find out…

READ: Dayton Audio DATS LA Loudspeaker Analyzer Review

 

[ryanosaur]

Nice! Thank you Shady, that looks like a stunningly cool upgrade for anybody that is serious about DIY projects.

 

[rajsingh]

For the price, the DATS LA is a very impressive tool and fills a gap between basic hobbyist measurement gear and professional systems. It’s not a replacement for a full Klippel setup, but for T/S parameters, impedance analysis, crossover diagnostics, and identifying driver issues, it offers a tremendous amount of capability for serious DIY speaker builders and repair enthusiasts.