Looking for Room Measurement / Speaker Setup Software

Hey @Chili5555

You can get a calibrated phone mic for around $20-$30

https://amzn.to/2Qr7LyK


Best,


E

The problem I have with phone or tablet-based applications is that the quality of the mic is unknown and therefore deficiencies in the frequency response of the mic are not accounted for in the measurement. Do your speakers have a big droop at 7 kHz or does the mic in your phone??

In REW using UMIK-1, the quality is known and a specific calibration file for the mic is accounted for in the software and, therefore, the measurement results.

I use and recommend REW.

Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound is very helpful for getting the speakers and listening seat positions correct.

The trouble with measurement software, is, you still have to move the speaker. It won’t tell you where the right place is, it just lets you measure several places.


One of the best ways to find the ideal location for a speaker is to swap it with your chair.

Walk around the room until the bass sounds best, and mark it with tape. Put your speaker there. :) If you are using REW or OmniMic, same applies. Walk around potential speaker locations until you locate the best curve.


Also, if you don’t have any, bass traps can really improve your options.

I’m a big fan of REW software.  I agree with others that there is a learning curve so, to get the most out of it requires some time and effort on your part.  I enjoyed the learning process and the SQ of my system benefited from the effort.

Audiogon is not the right forum to discuss measurements.   AVNirvana (where you get the REW software) is a good place to ask “how to” and "what does it mean" questions.  Gearslutz (pro audio) is a good place to read about acoustic problems and solutions.  They generally don’t answer questions from the 2 channel hobby crowd but every question you can think of has already been asked.  Search the forum.

You want a smooth frequency graph but I find the distortion graphs and the time domain stuff (ETC) more useful.  Finding solutions in the time domain helps resolve problems in the frequency domain.   Of late, I’ve been trying to lower the T30 values per Floyd Toole’s recommendations.

Lots of info in these books:  “Sound Reproduction” by Floyd Toole.  “Master Handbook of Acoustics” by F. Alton Everest and Ken C. Pohlmann.

what am I connecting the RCA cables to? I assumed the software will read the levels/freq data the mic ’hears’ and generate a graph of room response.

Connect to your preamp one of the line level input, if you decided to use umik-1 with REW for acoustic measurement, please read the link below to get started:
https://www.minidsp.com/applications/acoustic-measurements/umik-1-setup-with-rew
BTW, the REW software is free and come with built-in RTA, IME, it is a great learning tool to have.

ihmeyers writes:

 maybe moving the speakers a few inches can make a difference. ...

and 

As far as an EQ Preamp, I had a DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0. While it certainly adjusted the room response it degraded SQ. I had no idea how much until I tried it with/without in my system. Maybe it was the extra cables involved but it was anything but transparent with my equipment.

The second one is good to see, it shows you're listening. Lots of guys maybe most who go wandering down this road get so caught up in the numbers they forget or don't even notice they've shot themselves in the foot when it comes to sound quality. There's more to sound quality than frequency response. Most of the stuff we are able to measure is at best gross and often times misleading. Like chasing flat response at the expense of transparency, ease, detail, etc.

Forest for the trees.

What you will find with your room software, I predict will be a replay of what you found with the EQ. It will at best help you tweak a bit flatter response. Only in this case instead of losing transparency you will lose something else. Not sure what exactly you will have to find that out for yourself. But it will be something.

Probably imaging. Tweaking speakers for imaging is a game of millimeters. Actually make that millimeter. That's about how precise they need to be for precise imaging. 

What you will find, I can just about guarantee, is any move big enough to be heard as a benefit you either already did or at least certainly could have done. Well I mean if you can hear it, then try, wind up same place minus the cost of the software. So really all any software can do is a) save a little time and b) maybe get you closer but on a graph not anything you could hear. Because if you could hear it you could do it. So back to time. And money.

Meanwhile what if the software says move the speakers a few inches closer to a side wall? To get let's say 2dB flatter response. Which could be. Well moving closer to the side wall moved the first side wall reflection closer in time meaning either smeared imaging or more absorption needed, either way a loss for a gain.

Honestly probably never will understand why guys put so much faith in these things. On the bright side, keep this in mind, keep your ears and eyes open like you did with the EQ and you will learn from the experience, which is the main thing after all.

Advanced Spectrum Analyzer Pro Looks like a good app to try.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vuche.asap

RTA Analyzer is Free to install with Peak and RMS.
Spectroid features a Spectral Graph with Peak and RMS.
These will give a measurement at a single position.
Also a test tone LP / Disk and may help with the setup of the Super
Scoutmaster TT.
Try one see how it works for you.

I use the parametric EQ in Roon to tame a 7db peak @ 40hz in my room.  I can control the frequency, gain and Q all in the digital domain....Completely transparent.  I used the XTZ Room Analyzer 2 Pro and my computer to measure the room.  You would have to subscribe to Roon to use the free EQ supplied with the service.  I wouldn't be without Roon to integrate and sort my digital files along with Qobuz or Tidal.

Which phone app would you recommend?

Phone App ...

I am trying to find the best location for my speakers.  Tuning by ear has been effective but I still like to see what the frequency response looks like.  I also have a lot of diffusion/absorption products I can use to tune so I'd like to see their effect before & after visually.
As far as an EQ Preamp, I had a DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0.  While it certainly adjusted the room response it degraded SQ.  I had no idea how much until I tried it with/without in my system.  Maybe it was the extra cables involved but it was anything but transparent with my equipment.  I use Audysssey in my HT setup but I haven't heard anything transparent enough I'd use for my 2-channel.  I'm not saying something that good doesn't exist, just that it would probably be out of my price range.
Ian

So you probably won't be interested in a preamp with built in room correction.

I'm thinking anything from an Antinode to Anthem. Those would probably be great help.  If that's true, would you be willing to use a digital EQ before your DAC?

Best,
E

What exactly are you trying to achieve with room frequency response measurements?

Ian is a newbie to this, which is why I recommended OmniMic, it's a lot easier to use and get data from. :)


REW will work and has a big support forum, but it was also more complicated. Ian, you should go check out the Room EQ Wizard pages and forums, they'll answer all of your questions in detail.


Best,

E

Thanks.  The mic I get, what am I connecting the RCA cables to?  I assumed the software will read the levels/freq data the mic 'hears' and generate a graph of room response.
I am going to order this.

Ian

https://www.minidsp.com/applications/acoustic-measurements/umik-1-setup-with-rew
 
https://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1

https://www.amazon.com/Pasow-3-5mm-Stereo-Right-Audio/dp/B01FTLIU5G/ref=pd_sbs_23_6/130-7967504-3107...

download the REW, and that’s all you needed.

REW is fine, I just like OmniMic based on experience. I find it easier to use.


Both will get the job done and both include test signals.


Course, if you want to get really basic, with an Android, get Audio Tools and a $20 imm 6 from Dayton audio

Imhififan,

Does the REW software contain the necessary test tones or do I get those somewhere else?  Thanks.
Ian

Thank you both for your replies.  I have a bunch of GIK products in the room now and in the family room I use for HT.  They are really good people to work with.  I definitely want to take some measurements.  Even though I'm stuck with this less than optimal room (hopefully not for too much longer), maybe moving the speakers a few inches can make a difference.  If nothing else, I learn something about the room.
Regards,Ian

Hey Ian,

Talk to GIK Acoustics. Great advice, and great products for your room. They'll look at your pictures and drawings and help you get set up. 

That's going to be more useful to you than buying software and a calibrated mic _unless_ you have access to an EQ in your chain.


Best,
E