[PLMONROE]

IMHO, the talent on this forum is frightening! I am hoping some of you will be able to tell me how to get the most value from these test readings.

 After equalizing my system with a Behringer UltraPro 2496 I ran all  299 test tones on the test cd with the following results as measured on my Phonic PAA2:
1) Below 20hz:
 10hz---
 11hz---
 12hz---
 13hz 55
 14hz 61
 15hz 67
 16hz 73
 17hz 75
 18hz 78
 19hz 81
 This I think is fantastic but correct me if I am wrong.

2) Above 20hz:
 Readings for all frequencies between 20hz and 189hz were within the ranges of 85 to 75. I don't know whether this is good, bad , or indifferent.

3) 190hz and above I found the readings to be more varied
     From 190hz to 212hz the readings ranged between 77 and 72
     From 213hz they fell from 70 to 52 at 217hz rising back up to 72 at 221   
     From 222hz to 241hz they rose to 8o and back down again to 72
     From 241hz the readings fell from 72 to 66.7 at 243 and back to 72 at 246hz
     From 246hz to 253hz the readings were between 70 and 72.
     From 253hz readings fell to 51 at 257hz rising back to 72 by 262hz
     From 262hz readings ranged between 72 and 76 to 283hz
     From 283hz to readings rose from 76 to 81 at 299hz

I am at a loss as how to explain the dips at 217hz and 257hz or what to do about them.

So what suggestions are in the offering? 

Thanks Guys,
Paul

     

[bpape]

If you have the actual data points, put them in Excel and plot a line graph.  To really identify what's going on, I'd need to see the plot.  I'd also need to know room size, speaker location, and seating location down to the inch.

If you want something a little less painful, download Room EQ Wizard.  It's a free download and will run a sweep and do the plots for FR and decay time in about 5 seconds.

Bryan

[warnerwh]

Aha, I see Bryan just said what I'd been about to. Here is the REW forum and in the bottom sticky you can download REW here:http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/rew-forum/

It's a really cool program. If you have any problems just post it there because those guys know it inside and out.

You'll like having pink noise up to 200 hz rather than going over every single frequency. REW will give you much more than just frequency response.

Btw they have a .cal file for the Behringer ECM-8000 you can download and load into REW.

[Ethan Winer]

Readings for all frequencies between 20hz and 189hz were within the ranges of 85 to 75. I don't know whether this is good, bad , or indifferent.

It could be good if the 10 dB span is real. If you achieved it via EQ it likely is not real. By "real" I mean if you move the microphone 6 inches (distance between an adult's ears) and the response goes back to the usual 20+ dB span, then the EQ didn't really help as much as it looks.

I am at a loss as how to explain the dips at 217hz and 257hz or what to do about them.

No mystery there! All room have a horribly skewed bass response. This article on the RealTraps site explains more:

http://www.realtraps.com/art_vibes.htm

So what suggestions are in the offering?

I agree with Warner's advice to use the REW software if you have a computer connected to your system. That will give more useful data than the test tones on our site, and it will take only ten seconds versus half an hour. The RealTraps test tones are meant mainly for people who have no easy way to get a computer into their system.

--Ethan

[geezer]

I agree with Warner's advice to use the REW software if you have a computer connected to your system. That will give more useful data than the test tones on our site, and it will take only ten seconds versus half an hour. The RealTraps test tones are meant mainly for people who have no easy way to get a computer into their system.

--Ethan

I'm interested in this possibility too. I have a two-channel system, and a computer. I'd be very grateful if you could tell me what do I connect to what, and how? What will come out of the process?

John

[richidoo]

geezer, a frequency sweep measures the acoustic problems in the room in several ways. It identifies problems which prevent you from hearing the music as recorded. Once you post your test data here, the experts will advise you what you need to do to correct the problems.  You will notice a very big improvement in the sound of your system after the frequency response is smoothed out and harmful reflections are treated.

You can read much more about it on websites like realtraps.com, gikacoustics.com, eighthnerve.com, rpginc.com, etfacoustic.com, probably some others I'm forgetting. Google "acoustic treatment."

The Room EQ Wizard (REW) software has help file to explain how to hook up the gear to do the test. If you have problems, you can post for help here or in shack support forum. There are some other free softwares out there too, but REW is one of the easiest to use.
Rich

[geezer]

Got it, richidoo. Thanks.

[PLMONROE]

Thanks, Have already downloaded REW and have packaged my Behringer ECM-8000 to go out tomorrow for calibration (might as well do it right)

Paul