Audio Precision's APx517B Acoustic Analyzer Addresses Production-Line Test of Consumer Electronics
Audio Precisionreleased the APx517B acoustic analyzer, specifically designed, configured, and built for the production-line testing of speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, and other consumer electronics gear incorporating speakers and microphones. The APx517B acoustic analyzer enables manufacturers to deploy an integrated acoustic test system to their production lines.
An integrated system combining audio analyzer (signal generation and acquisition), power amplifier, headphone amplifier, and microphone power supply, along with any required digital interface such as Bluetooth, the APx517B can reduce setup and reconfiguration time by eliminating multiple individual components (from a variety of vendors) and their associated cabling. Additionally, and unlike those individual components, the APx517B is delivered with an accredited ISO/IEC 17025 calibration.
The APx517B is an integrated system engineered and assembled to the same standard as all other APx analyzers and is delivered with a three-year warranty and accredited calibration. For 36 years, the equal to AP analyzers’ reputation for performance and measurement accuracy is the long-standing recognition of their quality and reliability.
The base model, presented at an MSRP of $6,000 USD, delivers measurement capability for the functional test of headphones, speakers, drivers and microphones. Configuring the system for specific DUT, interface or measurement requirements is equally affordable for manufacturers. From base model to more advanced configurations, the APx517 is priced to compete with systems assembled from separate software, soundcard, amplifiers, mic power supplies and digital interface devices, even while eliminating the extra time needed to assemble such systems.
In its base configuration, APx517B is a ready-to-go system for measuring analog speakers, microphones, headphones, or headsets. For digital devices, APx517B has a module slot for the addition of a single APx digital interface module, such as Bluetooth®, PDM or HDMI. On the software side, a standard system provides a core set of measurements and functionality to allow out-of-the-box, fundamental test of acoustic devices: File Analysis, Sequence Mode, Input Signal Monitors (including FFT Monitor), Level & Gain, THD+N, Loudspeaker Product Test (including Rub & Buzz), Stepped Frequency Sweep, Pass / Fail, and Signal Acquisition measurement.
As with APx500 Flex, a trio of Flex Packs is available, each offering different groups of more advanced measurements. Perceptual audio measurements—including ABC-MRT and POLQA—can likewise be used with Flex. Finally, for the user that needs the base configuration plus just one or two more measurements, à la carte menu of measurements is likewise available. APx500 Flex, Audio Precision’s APx500 software paired with an ASIO-capable audio interface, is a test solution for cost-sensitive analog-only test applications.
APx500 software release 6.0.1 is also available for download by APx B Series or Legacy analyzer users with a valid 6.0 license and is compatible with all analyzers in the APx500 Series (Note: an APx KeyBox is required to run v6.0 on Legacy APx analyzers). As with all other new APx analyzers, APx517B ships with version 6.0.1 software and one year of software maintenance, effectively licensing that instrument for APx version 7.0 when it is released, as well as any minor releases that occur between versions 6.0 and 7.0.