Room EQ Wizard or Ethan's test tone CD?

heisleyamor · 7th August 2008

I'm buying an SPL meter from Radioshack to figure out what I need to do to my room. Should I use Ethan's test tone CD ( RealTraps - Test Tone CD ) or Room EQ Wizard ( Room EQ Wizard Home Page ) ?

michaels · 7th August 2008

I never got the newer(?) room eq wizard to work but their old version worked fine with my setup. Unfortunately I deleted it after I used it so I no longer have it and am in the same boat as you now - I just put up a load of bass traps in the CR but never did check the room afterwards.

Ethan Winer · 7th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisleyamor

I'm buying an SPL meter from Radioshack to figure out what I need to do to my room. Should I use Ethan's test tone CD ( RealTraps - Test Tone CD ) or Room EQ Wizard ( Room EQ Wizard Home Page ) ?

REW for sure. My test tone CD is only for people that have no computer connected to their system. REW has many advantages - five seconds to "shoot the room" versus 30 minutes, and you also get waterfall plots and RT60.

Also, before you buy the Radio Shack meter see this:

Comparison of Ten Measuring Microphones

The RS meter is useful in its own right for its intended purpose. But if your main need is a microphone for room measuring, there are much better options as you'll see in the above article.

--Ethan

heisleyamor · 7th August 2008

well I already bought the Radio Shack meter. So hopefully it's within a few dBs. Do I need to buy a certain cable to hook it up to my computer? There is an output spot on the meter but no cord is provided.

Ethan Winer · 7th August 2008

Yes, the RS meter is fine for low frequencies, which is what you mostly care about.

--Ethan

heisleyamor · 7th August 2008

i can hook the meter to show the results in REW though right?

ed97643 · 7th August 2008

The meter doesn't hook up to anything; it just has an omni mic capsule on one end, and a db reading indicator on the top. If you want any plots, you'll need paper and pencil.

Tip if you use the Ethan CD: Wear Earplugs. I had a headache for 2 days! Not knocking the product here mind you; it is very useful, but loud bass for a couple hours (I did a few tests) gets at you after a while.

Ethan Winer · 7th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisleyamor

i can hook the meter to show the results in REW though right?

Yes, you can use the SPL meter as a microphone. It has a line level output so you won't need a preamp.

--Ethan

ed97643 · 8th August 2008

Whups; Ethan's right, I was wrong. I have Radio Shack product ID 33-2055, and it does indeed have a single mono female RCA output. Sorry about my incorrect information above.

Either way, don't forget the earplugs! : )

nosebleedaudio · 8th August 2008

Pink noise is also good..

heisleyamor · 9th August 2008

Yeah I think Room EQ Wizard Generates pink noise in different frequencies. Is this the best way to check which frequencies need work in your room? I'm still trying to learn more about the radio shack meter. I'm hoping it shows a waterfall graph in REW from the results I get on the radio shack meter.

7th August 2008	#1
heisleyamor Lives for gear Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,357 Thread Starter	Room EQ Wizard or Ethan's test tone CD? I'm buying an SPL meter from Radioshack to figure out what I need to do to my room. Should I use Ethan's test tone CD ( RealTraps - Test Tone CD ) or Room EQ Wizard ( Room EQ Wizard Home Page ) ?

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7th August 2008	#2
michaels Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cabot Arkansas Posts: 342	I never got the newer(?) room eq wizard to work but their old version worked fine with my setup. Unfortunately I deleted it after I used it so I no longer have it and am in the same boat as you now - I just put up a load of bass traps in the CR but never did check the room afterwards.

7th August 2008	#5
Ethan Winer Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New Milford, CT, USA Posts: 12,050	Yes, the RS meter is fine for low frequencies, which is what you mostly care about. --Ethan

7th August 2008	#7
ed97643 Gear Head Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus, OH, USA Posts: 72	The meter doesn't hook up to anything; it just has an omni mic capsule on one end, and a db reading indicator on the top. If you want any plots, you'll need paper and pencil. Tip if you use the Ethan CD: Wear Earplugs. I had a headache for 2 days! Not knocking the product here mind you; it is very useful, but loud bass for a couple hours (I did a few tests) gets at you after a while.

8th August 2008	#9
ed97643 Gear Head Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus, OH, USA Posts: 72	Whups; Ethan's right, I was wrong. I have Radio Shack product ID 33-2055, and it does indeed have a single mono female RCA output. Sorry about my incorrect information above. Either way, don't forget the earplugs! : )

8th August 2008	#10
nosebleedaudio Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL USA Posts: 3,547	Pink noise is also good..

9th August 2008	#11
heisleyamor Lives for gear Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,357 Thread Starter	Yeah I think Room EQ Wizard Generates pink noise in different frequencies. Is this the best way to check which frequencies need work in your room? I'm still trying to learn more about the radio shack meter. I'm hoping it shows a waterfall graph in REW from the results I get on the radio shack meter.