REVIEW TREEDIX USB CABLE TESTER III

Previously High on Technology has written about USB-C cables and the various permutations of the connectors, conductors and wires. Now we’re going to look at a USB cable tester capable of analyzing what is going on inside your cable. This product integrates the basic function testing of data cables, internal cable construction testing, internal resistance testing, and Type-C eMarker reading. How many conductors are wired to the plethora of connection-contacts? Power handling, data handling and more can all be tested but it requires more than a DIY battery and LED combination. There are at least two Treedix models I found, in this review we’ll be looking at the more expensive model which has a tiny CPU for doing the heavy lifting. Ready for some surprises?

WHAT IS FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE: The Key to Accurate Audio

In the world of audio engineering and consumer electronics, terms like "frequency response" get thrown around a lot, especially when discussing headphones, speakers, or microphones. But what exactly does a "flat frequency response" mean, and why should you care? Whether you're a music producer fine-tuning tracks in the studio or an everyday listener streaming podcasts on your commute, grasping this concept can help you make better decisions about your gear. In this article, we'll break it down step by step, exploring its technical foundations and real-world implications.

REVIEW: EMF Meter Model RD630, because health matters!

Are you cooking yourself with radiation?

Well don't buy this one

(but think about EMF)

IMPORTANT UPDATE AT END: My favorite human and I spend A LOT of time in the kitchen. We cook and eat, we do art, we watch birds and surf the internet, all from our kitchen, so it seemed like a place that should be safe. Since our kitchen is one of the nerve centers of our home, testing for radiation seemed like a smart idea. There is a big cell tower about 1/4 mile away behind our house and my partner was wondering if we were being irradiated. 

HOW DO YOU FIND ELECTRONIC NOISE IN STUDIO? Listen to it

Tone Generator Kit

Got hum or noise in your studio and need to track it down? You can listen for it with an inexpensive tool, which is currently under $30 on Amazon, that low price gets this valuable tool into our fun category of Bargain Studio Hacks. Not only can it point you to high output sources of induced noise, it can also be invaluable for tracing wires and cables. An almost identical version of this kit cost over $200 back in the 90’s but now cheap, functional equivalent, clones, are invading the world. What is this tool? Is it good?

QUANTASYLUM QA403 MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH ADAPTORS AND CABLES

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The QuantAsylum QA403 Audio Analyzer features eight female BNC panel mount connectors which provide excellent shielding out to 4GHz (plenty high enough for even the highest frequency digital audio recording). The generator outputs are on the left and the analyzer inputs are on the right. 

The BNC connector is not typically used for audio connections in recording studios so how do you connect this box for testing your audio components which might have RCA-Phono, TRS male or female or XLR audio inputs and outputs?

REVIEW QUANTASYLUM RACK MOUNT KIT

Racking Up QuantAsylum Test Equipment

New QuantAsylum rack shelf on SKB 19" rack

I wanted to pull my QuantAsylum test pieces together into a solid kit that I can transport, plug-in and use conveniently. It took me three tries but I finally got it put together in a nice test kit configuration that sets up fast, has all the connections accessible and protects the equipment during transport. The new QuantAsylum rack mount accessory brought two QA test gear components together to form a sturdy package. 

The assembled system - Click to enlarge

When the system is deployed the laptop sits on top of the rack and all the cables connect easily. One (white) extension cord connects the rack to AC wall power. 

REVIEW QUANTASYLUM QA472 ULTRA LOW NOISE PREAMP FOR PRECISION EQUIPMENT TESTING

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The recently released QA472 low noise preamplifier provides a reliable way to increase small signals for testing purposes. You can learn more about QuantAsylum by reading the HoT review for the QA403 audio analyzer here. 

What's new in this latest version of the preamp?

REVIEW QUANTASYLUM QA403 AUDIO ANALYZER

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What is going on inside your audio equipment? We talk about frequency response, noise floor and dynamic range but where do these numbers come from? They come from the manufacturers of the equipment; but how do you know if these things are true?

QuantAsylum manufactures a range of affordable test equipment. The products are designed and built in the USA. 

The following comes directly from the QuantAsylum website:

“QuantAsylum is a portmanteau of the words quantify (to measure) and asylum (protection, shelter, refuge). Since 2010, QuantAsylum has been developing and offering unique products for embedded hardware and software developers.”

I became aware of QA in the final quarter of 2023. I was looking into buying a much more expensive Audio Precision test system to do advanced performance analysis on audio equipment for High on Technology. Is the QA403 a replacement for a modern AudioPrecision system?

COMPARING AUDIO TRANSFORMERS

AUDIO TRANSFORMERS, SIZE MAKES A DIFFERENCE

JIG FOR TRANSFORMER A-B TESTING

A friend asked me to compare a small isolation transformer to a larger model I'm familiar with so I set about making a jig so I could easily switch between two transformer-parts under test or bypass. I chopped some alligator test clip leads in half to make it simple for connecting to the transformer under test. I used the standard Crimson input-output wiring color code for the test leads.

PROWORKSHOP BASIC TRAINING, HOW TO SOLDER CORRECTLY

DIY = BETTER QUALITY,
MORE OPTIONS, LOWER COST

by Mark King for proworkshop.com

HOW TO SOLDER AUDIO ELECTRONICS, CABLES AND CORDS

MY FATHERS VINTAGE CRAFTSMAN SOLDERING IRON WITH WOOD HANDLE AND ASBESTOS CORD

I remember watching my father soldering when I was only five. He was building a Heathkit tube preamp and a matching tube power amp. I was totally intrigued, amazed and enthralled with the process. I did not know what he was building but it sure looked cool.