Audio Precision has announced the APx517B acoustic analyser for production-line testing of speakers, microphones, headphones and headsets, as well as consumer electronics incorporating speakers and mics.
With time spent setting up a new test system, calibrating for a new shift, or reconfiguring for a DUT (device under test) change effectively down time for a production line, an integrated system combining audio analyser (signal generation and acquisition), power amplifier, headphone amplifier and microphone power, along with any required digital interface such as Bluetooth, the APx517B promises a saving. The APx517B claims to deliver on this promise. Additionally, and unlike those individual components, it is delivered with an accredited ISO/IEC 17025 calibration.
Cost sensitivity – whether test system cost or the cost of any ‘line down’ time – is a constant in manufacturing test. In addition to its ability to significantly impact the time component, the APx517B is offering AP performance at a production test price. The base model offers 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.
The APx517B maintains the APx Series’ tradition of flexibility and configurability. In its base configuration, APx517B is a ready-to-go system for measuring analogue 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. For users needing the base configuration plus just one or two more measurements, a custom menu of measurements is available.
With APx500 Flex, Audio Precision’s APx500 software paired with an ASIO-capable audio interface, remains an option for cost-sensitive analogue-only test applications. For mid-range analogue test and digital test applications – Bluetooth headphones, smart speakers as examples – the APx517B acoustic analyser, with robust, integrated hardware, digital interface options, and accredited calibration, is the optimal choice.
‘Production, or manufacturing, test is an application with its own unique challenges that, simply put, are time, reliability and cost,’ says Audio Precision General Manager, Daniel Knighten. ‘The APx517B acoustic analyser, is purpose-built to address those challenges – drastically reducing setup and reconfiguration time, delivering AP quality and reliability, configured and priced specifically for the manufacturing line – and thus redefine acoustic production test.’
The APx517B acoustic analyser is available now, with the base configuration retailing for US$6,000. APx500 software release 6.0.1 is also available for download by APx B Series or Legacy analyser users with a valid 6.0 licence and is compatible with all analysers in the APx500 Series (an APx KeyBox is required to run v6.0 on Legacy APx analysers). As with all other new APx analysers, 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.
More: www.ap.com
