Tools to measure in room response

Primitive and tedious.

The optimal cost/precision/effort way is to use RoomEQ Wizard freeware with your laptop. You can get away with RS meter for this but a better mic is advised.

This will give you measurements of swept tones (without resorting to pen-and-paper or spreadsheet entries) and will also provide lots of other info.

See http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/

Kal

One problem is that there is no since "usual listening position." Moving the mic or the SLM only a few inches can change the FR substantially, especially if it is handheld. Using REW, one can take several sweeps from different positions within the listening position in a matter of minutes and average them.

I guess it depends on whether you want to know something or just get a feel of what's going on.

Kal

There is no simple answer to the question about what one does with the measurement results. The first thing, of course, is to see if there is any correlation with your long-term subjective assessment of system problems. If so, then those need to be dealt with. How? Physical treatments (see www.realtraps.com for ideas) and physical setup.

Kal

I reviewed and still use the XTZ system.
http://www.stereophile.com/musicintheround/1108mitr/index.html
http://www.stereophile.com/musicintheround/music_in_the_round_34/index1.html
There will be a follow-up on the new version in November.

Kal

Pryso- That will, indeed, give you a very rough estimate unless you sample and average several locations in/near the main listening position. The reason is that the FR, especially in the bass, can vary substantially over a span of several inches (similar to the distance between your ears) and no one sample is entirely representative of the sound at the main seat.

Kal