I am interested in equipment to tune car audio systems

[shufflnmadness 10+ year member]

I would like to buy an oscilloscope, RTA, and test cd, so I can learn to tune car audio systems. I don't imagine I would need a real expensive oscilloscope? I know there are dozens of different probes for a scope I'm not sure what I would need there, RtA's I know nothing about them. I would imagine I would want one I could hook to a printer to print out frequency response graphs. I'm just guessing but I figured I could get decent used equipment for around $500.00 total. Fluke makes those small hand held scope that look like DVM's, I don't know who makes RTA's that are any good. Or which test cd's are good. Any help would be appreciated. thanks.

Click to read more...

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

I just sold the perfect meter 2 weeks ago...It did all kinds of test if you can find one it was a Terrasonde audio tool box...

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I don't know who makes RTA's that are any good.

Audiocontrol, Rane, Behringer...a good RTA could eat up most of that budget, though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[shufflnmadness 10+ year member]

Can you rent an RTA and a scope for a weekend, and how much would it cost.

 

[6spdcoupe 5,000+ posts]

Audiocontrol, Rane, Behringer...a good RTA could eat up most of that budget, though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I know first hand how much the AC eats up a budget. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[explorer2 10+ year member]

How much do you want to spend on a scope? If its on the cheap pick up a real old one on ebay, tek or hp etc. Pretty much any scope will do what you need since you arent dealing with any high bandwith applications.

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

got my behringer rta for one hundred fifteen on ebay. sonemthing around there

 

[Bake 10+ year member]

If you have a laptop you may want to look into what is available for use with it. With the right mic, preamp, and software you can use the laptop as an RTA. I have seen software for a MAC that can be used both as a scope and RTA with the right hardware to take the measurements.

 

[SpasticGramps 10+ year member]

Term Lab offers RTA software for $249 http://www.termpro.com/storefront/page606.html

 

[shufflnmadness 10+ year member]

Sounds like this isn't going to be as inexpensive as i hought, I knew I wouldn't need a real expensive scope, I also knew the RTA would be costly to get something decent. going the laptop route won't be cheap either, A documented calibrated mike that is any good will probably be $350 or more used I'm guessing.

what about renting a scope and RTA i know there are places that rent that knid of stuff but i don't know how much they charge.