Audio Precision has announced the new APx517B acoustic analyzer that’s specifically designed, configured and built for the production-line testing of loudspeakers, microphones, headphones, headsets as well as a wide range of consumer electronics incorporating loudspeakers and microphones.
The introduction of the APx517B provides manufacturers with the opportunity to deploy an integrated acoustic test system that brings the reliability and robustness of Audio Precision’s lab-oriented analyzers to their production lines.
On a production line, any time spent setting up a new test system, calibrating a system for a new shift, or reconfiguring a system for a change in DUT (device under test), is effectively a “line down” situation. As 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 has the power to reduce setup and reconfiguration time by eliminating multiple individual components (from a variety of vendors) and their associated cabling. Additionally, 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.
Further, in addition to its ability to impact the time component, the base model of the APx517B is available at a competitive MSRP of $6,000 USD. From the 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, the APx517B is a ready-to-go system for measuring analog loudspeakers, microphones, headphones, or headsets. For digital devices, it 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, an a la carte menu of measurements is likewise available.
“Production, or manufacturing, test is an application with its own unique challenges that, simply put, are time, reliability and cost,” stated Daniel Knighten, Audio Precision General Manager. “The APx517B acoustic analyzer, 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 analyzer is available now, with the base configuration retailing for $6,000 USD. 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.
