The Two Channel Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Nov 10, 2016.

  1. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    In my experience phones and good apps are pretty decent. As good or better than my old analog Rat Shack db meter, and you can get a better idea of holes by using a spectrum analyzer app. You can get special mics and apps for the iphone. Not sure of brand but my friend has both and says it performs very well.
     
  2. GoldilocksEars

    GoldilocksEars New

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    @StageOne Which app do you use? I'll do a quick comparison vs my SPL meter and report back.
     
  3. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Dayton iMM-6. Worth the money because if you're interested you can also use it as the core of measurement rigs for earphones and headphones (e.g. here).

    I've recently been using it and my old Galaxy S4 to try to record and sort out room issues in my new home. The apps I've tried so far, though, seem to have limited bass response. @StageOne , possibly this is overkill for your use case, but here are some app recommendations based on testing against reference microphones: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5102154/
     
  4. StageOne

    StageOne Friend

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    I'm running "Decibel X" app on the iphone. Thanks!

    The price is right on the Dayton! Thanks for the info
     
  5. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    Try a few different apps and see if they show consistent results. I tried a couple of apps on Android (just for fun, wasn't trying to actually measure) and they reported very different sound levels. A phone app might be useful for comparative measurements but absolute measurements would require calibration.
     
  6. GoldilocksEars

    GoldilocksEars New

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    I was going to try a longer test with multiple apps, but all the ones I downloaded seemed to be worse than 'Decibel X', so I just quickly compared that against my SPL meter. This is the one I bought and I measured it against my UMIK-1 that I calibrated with the ND9 that atomicbob calibrated against his B&K 4231. Factory calibration was within ±0.1dB from 100Hz to 5kHz, so assuming my UMIK-1 calibration is accurate that is pretty awesome. More later in the other thread.

    Stimulus: REW speaker cal set to 70dBA (bandpassed pink noise between 500Hz and 2kHz), measured at ca 5m distance. dBA, slow setting for all meters:
    [​IMG]
    Measured all devices "nude" with no case and with the hands as far from the mic as possible. The self noise levels generally seem too low to me, so I think it's not unlikely they're really all ca 3dB too low. I'd think around 30dBA is a normal self noise level for these small MEMS mics and circuits in there. For comparison my WM-61A gets 22dBA self noise if my compensation is to be believed. Or 32dBC/dBZ, which is exactly how it's specified.

    BTW: Some of the other apps I tried were awful, reporting values by 20dB too low or so. 'Decibel X' seems pretty good to me. Not sure how accurate the FR of the mics in these devices is, though. Some phones have very linear mics while others are severly colored. I know my older Galaxy S4 was quite linear while my Galaxy S8 takes a dump past 5kHz. I think iPhones tend to be pretty good in that regard.

    TL;DR: I think Decibel X should be fine, but my 30€ SPL meter seems to be much better even with factory calibration.
     
  7. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    What are some popular all in one speaker sets for something like a living room that's popular nowadays for less than $1k? When I mean all in one, have built in amp/bluetooth/etc. Not aiming to be high end, but more respectable than something like a $75 soundbar.
     
  8. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Check out Vanatoo Transparent One Encore and add the best subwoofer you can with the rest of the budget? I really like the Zero in my office setup.
     
  9. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks, however, I don't like subs in general.
     
  10. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Hate to say it, but have you ever checked out Z-Reviews on YouTube? He reviews all kinds of powered speakers with Bluetooth and all that stuff. Find the ones he likes the best and get em on Amazon so you can return if you don’t like. I got tired of watching his reviews some time ago, but last I remember he liked ones from Swan and Edifier.

    Edit: I think it was the Swan M300 or the Edifier S3000Pro he liked.
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2020
  11. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I know Z-Reviews, I cringe on his Animu music and Animu wallpapers on his vertical/TATE monitor. Also, he has too much shit in his review room. I was wondering if he is single? Most likely. Also, his head cam setup makes me want to puke when he shakes his head too much.

    I'll do more reviews on his speakers, I might wind up upgrading my soundbar to another soundbar due to well, space limitations.
     
  12. elmoe

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    For under 1k why not get a decent quality receiver that can handle bluetooth etc and a pair of good speakers? You can even go with 2 ch receivers so you don't waste money for 5.1-7.2 stuff you don't need and put most of the budget into passive speakers while still having all the functionality you're looking for.
     
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Trying to keep the setup basic without too many wires. Also, kitties love to eat some cables. Thankfully they didn't eat my current cheap soundbar, but one did eat my Toslink cable. :p
     
  14. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    One of my cats loves to chew on thin wires and cables. Solution there was bulk plastic tubing from the hardware store, slit it down the length with a razor, install it as a cable cover. PITA but you only have to do it one time.
     
  15. elmoe

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  16. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    That might do the trick. Oh yes, what are some basic passive speakers that is just good enough for 2.0 movies/music? Noting too serious. I saw the 2.0 Marantz Receiver that has all the music stuff (central of unit concept) for $600.
     
  17. elmoe

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  18. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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  19. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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  20. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks guys. Once I move into my new apartment I'll see what is more popular, the soundbar or watching movies with IEMs using the Roku remote. If curious, I'm using the cheap but great for the price VIZIO SB3820 Sounbar. Won't win on bass, but it does stereo just fine and it is loud enough.
     

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