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In Reply to: How do you measure room acoustics? GM ? posted by Bruce on January 02, 2000 at 13:25:16:
The RS SPL meter can still be inaccurate even with a correction curve. I have read in a few places that meter-to-meter consistency is not good, but I haven't run measurements on multiple units and so can't agree or disagree.
There are multiple PC programs that will function as a RTA, but the computer environment is rather noisy (fans, circuits close to the sound card, etc) so they can also be interpreted as relatively inaccurate. What DOES do the trick is a real stand-alone RTA. These units however can be a little expensive depending on your budget (I've seen prices in the $300 range for basic models from a variety of manufacturers). I've found that some places will rent the units, so that may be a good place to start. Call your local dealer and see if they will accomodate. If not, they may be able to point you in the right direction.
Doesn't sound like you really need a program that will MODEL your room modes/acoustics as much as you simply need a RTA of your room acoustics. I'd start with your ear and your RS SPL meter to get a general idea of what is going on. See what you can do to make the peaks/valleys smoother by playing with speaker placement in particular, but also furnishing placements.
Hope this helped. Feel free to ask more questions if you wish--I don't mind!
Happy listening!
GM,Yes, my first objective is just to measure the room and understand what I have to start with.
My first attempt with the RS meter in-room at my listening position and with the Stereophile disk 2 frequency sweep warble tones produced a frequency response curve for my front left and right that was + or - 3 db from 30Hz to 4Khz, then I have a frequency bump of +3db up to + 6db at 4kHz and 8kHz before going back to normal at 9kHz.
I also have what appear to be 2 room modes, a -5db null at 50Hz and a -6db null at 200Hz.
The reason I am comtemplating a PC software RTA, impulse and energy measuring system is not for absolute accuracy, but for the following reasons:
1) a graphical record of each change vs effect that I make
2) a close to real time display of changes/effects as I make them
3) a cost effective solution (only software, I will use RS meter mic)
4) MY TIME! Changes can be accomplished rather quickly vs. just a RS meter and a frequency sweep and my pencil and paper.Currently trying to find anyone who has used the ETF5 software program, but nobody has responded in the affirmative yet.
What do you think?
Bruce
I think you're on the right track. I have done a bit of research since we started this thread, and have read/heard relatively consistently good reports about the ETF software.
One comment about your post though--we use the term "room mode" to delineate where the peaks are, not the nulls. So here you'd say you have "suckout" (or other audiophile-approved subjective term) at 50 and 200. It would make sense that you'd see/hear something at both 50 and 200 since they are even-order harmonics. Look into your crossover frequencies as a possible contributing factor here.
If you further investigate the ETF software package, please do keep me posted. This has piqued my interest and I'm anxious to hear more input into this matter.
Hope this was helpful!
Good luck!
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