Hello,
I am undecided what analyzer to purchase. Currently I am using EMU0204 with SprecraPlus and for the most part it gets the job done, however when it comes to measure balance phono, it becomes tricky to get proper results. Plus the voltage range and therefore performance dependency it too large.
'This prompts me to get a new analyzer and since there are nice Audio precision on the market some system one and two at a more reasonable price. However they are old need special interface and computer and if they break it is not easy to repair.
In parallel I was looking at QA403 and I was wondering if nowadays, it is still worth to look at this older equipment as this perform as good but yet cheaper and more reliable, or these analyzers still set a standard?
Thanks!
I am undecided what analyzer to purchase. Currently I am using EMU0204 with SprecraPlus and for the most part it gets the job done, however when it comes to measure balance phono, it becomes tricky to get proper results. Plus the voltage range and therefore performance dependency it too large.
'This prompts me to get a new analyzer and since there are nice Audio precision on the market some system one and two at a more reasonable price. However they are old need special interface and computer and if they break it is not easy to repair.
In parallel I was looking at QA403 and I was wondering if nowadays, it is still worth to look at this older equipment as this perform as good but yet cheaper and more reliable, or these analyzers still set a standard?
Thanks!
I have Audio Precision recondition for sale. AP models like 22A, 222G, 322A, 2322, 2522, 2700, DCX-1027 & SWR’S. All SYSTEMS 100% working and INCLUDE an APIB USB ADAPTER.
duke.aguiar@ieee.org
duke.aguiar@ieee.org
I don't think I'd bother with a System One. The SYS-2700 is the second-best in the world. That'd be tough to beat ... unless you have $40k burning holes in your pocket for an APx555B.
If your goal is to go cheap, I think the QA403 offers incredible value for the money.
Read a bit here, too: https://neurochrome.com/pages/measuring-distortion-on-the-cheap
Tom
If your goal is to go cheap, I think the QA403 offers incredible value for the money.
Read a bit here, too: https://neurochrome.com/pages/measuring-distortion-on-the-cheap
Tom
Neither the SYS-1 or 2722 have live FFT. Once you've had live FFT on a proper AA (i.e. one that has isolated I/O and autoranging) you'll never go back. There is a guy who's selling an R+S UPL in the classifieds here, that has the B1 oscillator. It should do -112-113dB THD+N, which is around 2dB down on the 2722 and 5dB down on the guaranteed (-117dB) spec of the 555 (they typically hit -120, but AP only guarantee -117...you feel lucky, punk?)... He wants 2,200 Euro for it. I'd bite his hand off if I didn't already have several R+S AAs.
Its not hard to hang a USB scope on the output of an S1 and get both waveform and "real time" spectrum display. However getting the whole thing up and running is an undertaking and will eat a lot of bench space. A AQ403 does pretty much the same with a few limitations- Output is not isolated, Input max voltage is 30V. However its residuals are close to SOTA and more than good enough for audio development. Also QA403 supports ad-da stuff which requires a specific S1 version that still has limitations. My S1 gets down to about -113 dB THD+N. (20 KHz) Not enough to test SOTA opamps but adequate to confirm they are working properly.
I had a SYS-One for a while, but never got around to getting it working and ended up selling it to a friend (he got it working and seems pretty happy). However, I do have a 2722 and one thing worth noting (which I assume is the same for the Sys-One) is that when you put a secondary analyser on the output (will give you live FFT for example, as 1Audio suggests)...
...there is a gotcha: the output buffer adds noise.
You may find it a little disconcerting if you know that (for example) when FFT noise floor is below -130dBV you have 110SNR, your Sys-1 tells you that there is 110dB SNR - but the floor of the FFT on the output is clearly above -130dBV...
You'll get used to mentally adding a little noise, but it's definitely a plus point for the QA403 vs the old AP. Whatever reading the primary machine gives you, the monitoring machine will be a little degraded.
...there is a gotcha: the output buffer adds noise.
You may find it a little disconcerting if you know that (for example) when FFT noise floor is below -130dBV you have 110SNR, your Sys-1 tells you that there is 110dB SNR - but the floor of the FFT on the output is clearly above -130dBV...
You'll get used to mentally adding a little noise, but it's definitely a plus point for the QA403 vs the old AP. Whatever reading the primary machine gives you, the monitoring machine will be a little degraded.