Fresh From the Bench: IK Multimedia ARC 2.5 MEMS Test Microphone

For the Test & Measurement Focus published in audioXpress March 2018, two of our authors tackled IK Multimedia’s ARC 2.5 room correction system. In this article Stuart Yaniger tested the new MEMS measurement microphone available with IK Multimedia’s ARC 2.5 System. The microphone is built around an omni-directional, high precision MEMS capsule to ensure maximum response accuracy and stability over time. This article was originally published in audioXpress, March 2018

For the Test & Measurement Focus published in audioXpress March 2018, two of our authors tackled IK Multimedia’s ARC 2.5 room correction system. Ron Tipton investigated IK Multimedia’s claims that the new ARC 2.5 improves the audio monitoring accuracy of speakers in any studio or listening room, while Stuart Yaniger tested the new MEMS measurement microphone available with IK Multimedia’s ARC 2.5 System. In this section of the review, Ron Tipton looks in-depth at how to make the best use of the acoustic room correction possibilities of the ARC System.

Brent Butterworth reviews the new RA040X Ear Simulators from G.R.A.S. Sound & Vibration. Measuring headphone response at frequencies above-10 kHz has been an imprecise, non-standardized process. The new RA040X ear simulator represents part of an effort by G.R.A.S. Sound & Vibration to update headphone measurement equipment to suit the needs of today’s headphone industry, and make the measurements more meaningful. This article was originally published in audioXpress, March 2018.

The third annual Loudspeaker Sourcing Show was again held in Guangzhou, China, which is about an hour by ferry from Hong Kong. The show was hosted by Philip Richardson, owner of Trueanalog Strictly OEM, and his wife Mandy Tseng of ZengBen. The couple created the Loudspeaker Sourcing Show to connect qualified and vetted loudspeaker component, driver, and system manufacturers directly with loudspeaker engineers, purchasing heads, and brands. This is a focused engineering/purchasing event where the attendees meet directly with manufacturers for details and costing at the show.

Beginning with the January 2018 issue of Voice Coil magazine, Vance DIckason implemented the Loudsoft FINE R+D analyzer into the Test Bench measurement protocol. This article provides details about the features in FINE R+D FINE R+D, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analyzer packaged in a 1u rack, which is used with the recommended G.R.A.S. 0.25” Type 46BE microphone capsule and preamplifier body. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2017.

Physical Lab, based in Senden, Germany, is a fascinating company in that it not only manufactures loudspeaker test solutions directly aimed at speaker development and research, but also provides several engineering services for the loudspeaker industry. This article highlights the three loudspeaker measurement accessories that Physical Lab manufactures — the Physical Lab Mini Reference Amplifier, the Physical Lab Imp Box, and the Physical Lab ISO Box. The article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2017.

Based out of the Rocky Mountains of Salt Lake City, UT, a band of musicians, engineers, and enthusiasts with a desire to make great products, designed a way to give new life to vintage and modern microphones. The Simply Sound Company, designed its SS-1 single channel preamp, meant to boost the signal of a low output microphone to levels compatible with normal mic inputs. This article was originally published in audioXpress, December 2017.

In this review, Oliver A. Masciarotte shares his experience with the surprising SB Acoustics Rinjani and Ara speaker kits, which feature the high-end Satori TW29R Tweeter, the MW16P-4, and the MW16P-8 midwoofers from the brand. Masciarotte had the opportunity to live for some weeks with these exquisite Rinjani speakers - a name inspired by the famous volcano mountain in Lombok, Indonesia, a place of immense natural beauty. This article was originally published in audioXpress, September 2017.

Part of audioXpress Speaker Focus edition in September 2017, this article by Don Keele, Jr. reminds us of how things evolved in speaker design, revisiting a subwoofer project that uses an Electro-Voice 30W 30" woofer from 1975! In "True Bass in a Large Space," Keele writes, "Getting true bass in a small place is quite easy and straightforward today, but back in 1975, it was not!"

In this article, audioXpress visits Danish amplifier powerhouse ICEpower and we were given an insider’s look at its most recent advanced Class-D platform, ICEedge. The visit also provided the opportunity to look at several new products coming from the Danish amplifier specialists, but mainly focuses on the new ICEedge platform. This article was originally published in audioXpress, April 2017.