Fresh From the Bench: Audio Precision APx517B Acoustic Audio Analyzer

Primarily targeted at production test applications, the APx517B debuted at the end of 2020 and supplements AP's powerful product line of analyzers, which are considered the gold standard in audio measurement. In his review, David Logvin explores audio measurements with this fully integrated hardware, that combines multiple digital interface options all with accredited calibration. This article was originally published in audioXpress, August 2021.

Following the review of two QuantAsylum’s products featured in the December 2020 edition of audioXpress, David Logvin interviews Matt Taylor, the president and founder of QuantAsylum - a unique and fast growing test and measurement company based in the state of Washington - that adopted a unique modular product/solution approach that seems to be incredibly agile, adjusting well to current times. This article was originally published in audioXpress, March 2021.

On the cover of audioXpress December 2020, many of our readers instantly recognized the familiar look of the increasingly popular QuantAsylum QA401 audio analyzer. What many readers didn't recognize by then was the second module, the completely new QA451 programmable load, so new that audioXpress tested a pre-production version. In this review article, David Logvin shares his valuable perspective on this modular solution for audio measurements from QuantAsylum.

After a decade of widespread use, the Dayton Audio Test System (DATS) has acquired an impressive reputation for fast and accurate testing. Now, Dayton Audio has taken the easy-to-use audio test system and improved it in almost every way when creating the DATS V3 Computer-Based Audio Component Test System. This is an ultraportable audio test system that provides a reliable method for collection of Thiele-Small parameters, loudspeaker measurements and component measurements. This article was originally published in audioXpress, March 2020.

COMSOL, the multiphysics modeling, simulation, and application design and deployment software company, announced the latest version of its COMSOL Multiphysics software. COMSOL Multiphysics version 5.5 introduces powerful geometry modeling tools, faster solvers, and two new products: the Metal Processing Module and the Porous Media Flow Module. Most of the new features and tools benefit directly all developers working with the COMSOL Acoustics module.

David Logvin had the privilege to use, measure, and put to the test the Dayton Audio HTA20BT Hybrid Stereo Tube Amplifier. As he could confirm, there's something special in this amplifier that combines a tube preamp and Class-D power stage, which can also be used as a headphone amplifier, and features a digital media player and Bluetooth streaming capabilities. All at a very affordable price and with the build quality of a Dayton Audio product. This article was originally published in audioXpress, July 2019.

David Logvin explores the Lepai LP40PA ultra-compact amplifier, a versatile Class D common plate amp module with fully integrated Bluetooth 4.2 receiver and 3.5 mm stereo inputs, ideal for converting existing passive speakers into convenient portable and wireless units that can be placed anywhere. The Lepai LP40PA has plenty of power for a pair of bookshelf speakers as Logvin experimented. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2019.