CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

Lobby => Headphone Measurements => Topic started by: spoony on April 13, 2015, 06:52:29 PM

Title: Mic for measurements
Post by: spoony on April 13, 2015, 06:52:29 PM

I asked this in the shoutbox but couldn't catch a reply if there was any since it got flooded, so here it is again:

Is the Dayton UMM-6 (USB) as workable as the EMM-6 for measuring headphones?

Title: Re: Mic for measurements
Post by: kapanak on April 13, 2015, 06:55:08 PM

A few I know have the MiniDSP UMIK-1, which is probably the same capsule as the ones you mentioned, and also USB.

Title: Re: Mic for measurements
Post by: MuZo2 on April 13, 2015, 07:41:34 PM

UMIK-1 should be fine. You have calibration file from them right?

Title: Re: Mic for measurements
Post by: ultrabike on April 13, 2015, 08:27:01 PM

One limitation of the USB interface could come up if you have the SW means to perform a two channel measurement to check on crosstalk or something of the sort. A solution such as the 2i2 with two mics offers support for this through the use of two mic preamps and ADCs. I have not done that and don't think REW supports it, but other software might.

Other than that the UMIK-1 is attractive in that one does not have to do the SPL calibration as it comes with the package. This is not a minor feature. Calibration of SPL (not the mic) is important if you want to do distortion measurements. While frequency response does not seem to change that much with SPL, distortion does. There is also the convinience and portability that the USB solution represents. Particularly if you want to do tests at a meet or things like that.

Title: Re: Mic for measurements
Post by: Armaegis on April 13, 2015, 08:49:18 PM

Can regular studio mics like SM58's be used to take decent measurements?

Title: Re: Mic for measurements
Post by: spoony on April 13, 2015, 08:57:50 PM

Thanks all! The UMIK-1 seems like a good package.

Title: Re: Mic for measurements
Post by: ultrabike on April 13, 2015, 09:03:27 PM

Quote from: Armaegis on April 13, 2015, 08:49:18 PM

Can regular studio mics like SM58's be used to take decent measurements?

I believe the answer to that is no, for the following reasons:

1) For headphones the mic does not fit inside the cup (physical limitations)
2) For measurements I think you need an omnidirectional mic. The SM58 is unidirectional.
3) The smaller the mic the better (google free-field mics)

An SM58 might not meet some of the requirements.

It is interesting that many mics seem to work as electrostats, but not sure.

Title: Re: Mic for measurements
Post by: Dr Pan K on April 13, 2015, 10:32:43 PM

I use the miniDSP Umik 1 for room measurements (with REW 5), got it from Cross Spectrum with extra calibration angles

http://cross-spectrum.com/measurement/calibrated_umik.html