What are we using for room analysis?

highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
What are we using for room analysis? I have more than one reason for asking this question, the first being that I'm curious to hear what others use (mic, how they interface with the computer and how they compensate for known variances in equipment response), how much it helped their system and how they used the results in making their listening area(s) better. Another reason is that I'm in the position of needing a setup of this type because I no longer have access to the Audio Control RTA that I had used in the past. While it worked, I was never really all that geeked about some aspects of that model.

Price Range
I would also like to separate the setups into three groups. First, is the low cost but effective <$400 range, next is $401 to $1000 range and at the top would be the $1001 to $2000 range. I'm less interested in anything more expensive because I'm less interested in equipment that's out of the price range of most people. I know some here can buy whatever they want but I don't want to hear about that.

Microphone
This may be one of the most contentious parts of this discussion, for good reason. However, if the mic is calibrated and the response is compensated for, it can be as accurate as most others. I don't see a sub $200 mic being flat to within 1dB, anyway.

RTA Software
I'd like to know what is being used for test signals and data input (are people using TruRTA, EQ Wizard, or whatever?).

Interface
I want to know what people are using to get the signal to the software, whether it's a USB interface (M-Audio, Tascam, Lexicon, etc) or whether you're using a soundcard.

Computer
While it's not going to influence the test results as much as the other parts of the system, I'd like to know what people are using, whether it's an old desktop PC they had laying around or a new hot-rodded model.

Which tests are being performed?
I'd like to know if you're doing waterfall plots, RT60, impulse, LF decay, Spectral decay, Energy-Time or keeping it more simple by doing only RTA.

Thanks for any & all responses.
 
lsiberian

lsiberian

Audioholic Overlord
Check out REW on the home theater shack. There is a plethora data in those threads. Far more than I can recapitulate here.
 
E

Exit

Audioholic Chief
A lot of the receivers have built in auto-correction of room frequency response and relative volume. Audyssey is a little different in that it does time correction and there are split opinions of the system.

There is allways the classic Radio Shack (RS) Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter (about $45) and test tone CD (download free). Excell spreadsheets to plot the results with RS SPL correction are on AVS Forum under BFD. The BFD is a manual frequency and relative volume correction device, which is a little difficult to understand. There are BFD guides at AVS under BFD to help. The BFD 1024P (if I recall correctly) sold for about $110. So the total system cost is $155 for frequency and relative volume measurement and correction. The BFD is inserted in the receiver subwoofer out line so it only does correction in the subwoofer range range. I don't knew if you can still buy BFD 1024Ps new, but there are probably some on the used market as people move up to newer simpler systems.
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
Thanks. I should have stated that I'm not looking for built-in systems, I'm asking about stand-alone with a calibrated mic, some kind of input device and software. I also don't want this to require using a receiver with 5.1/7.1 and more than a single input jack. I know there aren't very many listening in mono but I don't want to leave anyone out (this would still work with a surround receiver or pre-pro system.

I'm also interested in how the people who build a lot of speakers decide what small changes are needed after the build, whether the crossover and port tuning are correct.

FYI- if a test disc isn't easily available, TrueRTA is a free download that has a pink noise generator with sine, square, sawtooth and other waveforms. The free version is 1 octave resolution but 1/3, 1/6, 1/12 and 1/24 octave are available as upgrades. This is from the same people who designed the WT3 woofer tester.
 
DTS

DTS

Senior Audioholic
What are we using for room analysis? Oh, geez this thread was more technical than I thought...I was just gonna say the big ol' fat grins and giggles on me and my friends faces when we watch a movie that makes the Ultra happy. :D
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
On the home audio forums, I see RTA use mainly from home audio equipment reviewers. I have noticed that the higher end car audio guys are using RTAs fairly frequently for system setup. You might be interested in their car audio forums such as:

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/

http://www.caraudioforum.com/
I did car audio at three different places and we had the Audio Control unit at the past two but, as I posted, I want something that does more- RT60, waterfall, etc and REW does those.

After installing equipment in more than 7000 cars, I'm not sure I won't explode if I go to those sites.:D
 
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