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Network Analyzer

Network Analyzer

Overview

The Network Analyzer is a tool for measuring the frequency response (amplitude and phase characteristics) of equipment and systems. It uses the "Fast Chirp" method (logarithmic chirp signal) to perform high-precision measurements of the entire band in a short time.

Primary uses:

  • Measuring frequency response (f-response) of amplifiers and filters.
  • Measuring characteristics of speakers and headphones.
  • Measuring phase difference and delay between two signals.

Basic Operation

Starting Measurement

  1. Set the measurement range (Start/End Freq) and Amplitude in the "Settings" tab.
  2. Adjust the Duration of the chirp signal. Longer durations generally improve the S/N ratio.
  3. Set the number of Averages. Multiple sweeps are performed and averaged to reduce noise.
  4. Click the "Start Sweep" button to begin measurement. Progress is shown on the progress bar.
  5. Click the button again to stop the measurement midway.

Routing and XFER Mode

Input/Output Settings

  • Output Ch: Select the channel to output the measurement signal (L, R, or Stereo).
  • Input Mode: Select where to receive the signal returning from the measurement target.
    • Left (Ch1) / Right (Ch2): Measures the signal of the selected channel. In "Absolute (Level)" mode, it displays the input level in various units.
    • XFER (Ref=L, Meas=R): Uses the Left channel as a "reference signal" and the Right channel as a "measurement signal," calculating their ratio (H = Meas / Ref). This allows for measuring pure device characteristics by canceling out the inherent traits of the audio interface (relative measurement).
    • XFER (Ref=R, Meas=L): Reverse transfer function mode using Right as reference.
    • Crosstalk L -> R / R -> L: Pre-configured macros for measuring crosstalk between channels.

Display and Analysis

Customize the graph display in the "Display" tab.

Graph Types

  • Magnitude Response: Displays gain (amplification factor) or absolute level for each frequency. Units can be selected from dBFS, dBV, dBu, Vrms, or Vpeak.
  • Phase Response: Displays the phase shift for each frequency.
  • Group Delay: Displays the delay time for each frequency, calculated from the slope of the phase (check "Show Group Delay").
  • Coherence: Displays the correlation (reliability) between input and output. Values closer to 1.0 indicate high reliability. Low coherence suggests noise, distortion, or timing issues (check "Show Coherence").

Display Options

  • Smoothing: Smooths out fine jaggedness (noise) in the graph. Selectable from Off/Light/Medium/Heavy.
  • Max/Min Freq: Limits the frequency range displayed on the graph.
  • Single-Ch Mode: When using a single input channel, choose between Relative (Gain) (normalized to the output) or Absolute (Level).

Calibration

Latency and IR SNR

  • Calibrate Latency: Measures the total input/output delay of the system. This is crucial for accurate phase measurement.
  • IR SNR: Displays the Signal-to-Noise Ratio of the Impulse Response for the most recent sweep. Higher values indicate a cleaner measurement.

Reference Trace

Saves the current measurement result as a "reference" to compare with subsequent measurements.

  • Store Reference: Saves the current graph as a reference.
  • Apply Reference: Subtracts the saved reference from the current measurement result. Useful for checking relative changes or "flattening" a response.

Troubleshooting

  • Audio stream failed to start. Check ASIO settings: This error message indicates that the audio stream failed to start. Please verify that the ASIO settings (Sample Rate and Block Size) match your audio interface's configuration.