Klippel Announces New dB Lab 210 and QC 6.6 Audio Analyzer Software Updates

The Klippel Analyzer System has received another software update with new features for both R&D and QC applications. The updates are free of charge for any users of dB-Lab major version 210 or QC 6, respectively and provide new relevant tools for output-based testing of contemporary DSP-enhanced speakers, headphones and other audio systems according to the IEC 60268-21 standard.

While on the one hand, we experience the benefit of having communication possibilities anytime and anywhere and use all types of communication platforms allowing us to interact in virtual conferences without being present physically - we also experience significant variations in communication quality, especially when being involved in virtual meetings. The question is: What is communication quality and which factors distinguish good communication quality from poor communication quality?

User experience in audio conferencing solutions matters – yet the enhancement can be challenging. Two webinars provided by HEAD acoustics give a deep-insight for manufacturers and designers of VoIP conferencing devices and system components on basic and advanced parameters, hardware and measurement setup, and testing procedures – all in order to ensure optimum communication quality and to enhance the user experience in audio conferences.

The new PCB Random Incidence Microphone (Model 377C20) from PCB Piezotronics covers a frequency range up to 16 kHz (+/- 2dB), the hearing range for most adults. The new microphone is ideal for noise reduction testing and general room acoustics measurements as well as calculating transmission loss with different materials.

K&K Development has released a new analyzer specifically designed for high-speed quality control. The new P750 QC and measurement system connects to a PC by USB and was designed as an economic solution for testing of loudspeakers in a production environment or lab environment. The Danish company says it is the right solution for micro speakers, headphones and handsets testing.

If you're a serious audio electronics DIYer, you likely have a bench-top supply in your workspace. So, how can you determine the stability of your lab or bench-top supply? You can get a good impression of the stability of a power supply under various conditions by loading the output dynamically.

Charles Hansen described a DIY phase meter calibrator using all-pass, phase-shift filters in a November 2006 article published in audioXpress magazine. Being able to measure phase angle is often helpful, so Ron Tipton decided to build the calibrator as described. In Hansen's design, there was a set of five calibrations frequencies: 10 Hz, 100 Hz, 1000 Hz, 10 kHz, and 100 kHz. Hansen relied on an external oscillator to drive the calibrator at these input frequencies. Ron Tipton made some modifications that better suited his needs, described in this article.