[sdiy] Cheap audio spectrum analyzer.. finally..

[Andrew Simper]

So not within the USD 500 budget? How much did it cost in the end? Is it
small so it easily fits on your desk? Does it have a VGA output port? It
doesn't run windows and it is a serious bit of kit, around USD 12000 when
if first came out!

For those not worried about running Windows I would suggest this setup as
the best value dedicated oscilloscope / signal analyser setup:

Windows 8 tablet with usb2 port = USD 200
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Fusion5
®-Ultra-Design-Tablet/dp/B00YCX7SGU/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1445995905&sr=1-2&keywords=acer+windows+tablet+usb+full+size

PicoScope 5000 16-bit usb scope = USD 1155
https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/5000/flexible-resolution-oscilloscope

Total Price = USD 1355

The PicoScope 5000 look like an awesome bit of kit, I've got one of the
older 12-bit models and it works great, but this one offers either 4
channels of 8 bit or 2 channels of 15-bit or a single channel of 16-bit, it
has sweepable signal generators as well as a DAC based arbitrary waveform
playback output. You could also but a 24-bit usb sound card for really low
amplitude distortion analysis, it operates all off battery so it's
portable, and you could configure windows to boot straight into the
oscilloscope software.

Cheers,

Andy



On 28 October 2015 at 01:28, Jean-Pierre Desrochers <jpdesroc at oricom.ca>
wrote:

> I finally decided to go for this:
>
> HP 35660A (with option 001 memory installed)
> http://www.sglabs.it/public/SgLabs_HP%2035660A.pdf
>
> It was not cheap but around one third of eBay's mean prices
> for those working condition HP testers..
> and the dealer was 1 hour car ride from my home.
> I think it's a good investment.
> Ooooff !
>
>
>>>>> Le 2015-10-26 11:18, Neil Johnson a écrit :
>>>>>
>>>>> Jean-Pierre Desrochers wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Do you know of a cheap audio spectrum analyzer I could buy to check
>>>>>>> 20-20khz frequency response on audio stuff ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Define "cheap".
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That would includes sinus generator + analyzer in the same box.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ok.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I checked on eBay and most analyzers are RF band based and are so
>>>>>>> $$$$$ expensives. But 2 things:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> You're looking for the wrong kind of thing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> - I don't want to use analysis software on a separate PC - Any DIY
>>>>>>> projects with micro/graphic LCD would do.. I want a standalone analyzer.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, for a complete standalone box I would recommend an HP Dynamic
>>>>>> Signal Analyser, such as the venerable 3561A, or something a little
>>>>>> more modern such as a 35660A. Pros: all-in-one, built-in screen, will
>>>>>> do amplitude and phase response. Cons: dynamic range ok but won't get
>>>>>> down to the very low levels of noise and distortion.
>>>>>> The next step up would be audio analysers, such as the HP 8903 or
>>>>>> something from Audio Precision. While the 8903 does have a built-in
>>>>>> computer and can do sweeps, the display is 7-seg LED so you'll need a
>>>>>> pencil and some graph paper. The Audio Precision kit needs an
>>>>>> external control computer, but can measure the very lowest noise and
>>>>>> distortion.
>>>>>> Again, what do you mean by "cheap"...? What is your budget, and what
>>>>>> level of performance do you want to measure?
>>>>>> Neil
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> http://www.njohnson.co.uk [1]
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Links:
>>>>> ------
>>>>> [1] http://www.njohnson.co.uk
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