Audio Precision APx555 B Series analyser
Posted on: Friday 11th of January 2019
Audio Precision announced the introduction of the APx555 B Series analyser, part of their B Series APx audio analysers. The second-generation APx555 offers improved sine generator frequency stability, lower system residual distortion, single-ended, balanced analogue output and an optional ADC test mode which provides VBias, a common mode DC Bias.
The arrival of the B Series APx555 audio analyser brings several enhancements to the analogue high-performance sine generator that will have broad appeal to developers of high-performance audio devices such as compressors, limiters, amplifiers, codecs and digital signal processors. This enhanced analogue generator (EAG) – standard with B Series APx555 analysers and available as an upgrade for Legacy APx555 systems– provides several improvements in its low‑distortion sine generator and high-precision sine analyser, including improved sine generator frequency stability with an accuracy of <30 ppm. The system can now also generate low-distortion analogue sine burst signals from 5 Hz to 100 kHz and allows users to independently invert the signal polarity of balanced channel outputs. Finally, the B Series APx555 has lower system residual distortion, with THD+N improvement above 50 kHz (−2 dB) and THD improvement above 5 kHz (varying from −2 to −5 dB).
For design engineers validating and testing complex, multichannel analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs), the B Series APx555 now offers an ADC Test Mode option capable of generating balanced analogue audio signals mixed with a calibrated common mode DC offset voltage. This optional feature is especially useful in testing devices that operate on a single supply voltage and require inputs with a DC bias voltage, such as audio codecs and ADC chips in mobile products. The ADC Test Mode also includes programmable voltage limits to prevent overvoltage damage to the device being tested. This option is included when a Legacy APx555 analyser receives an EAG upgrade.
“Originally introduced in late 2014, the APx555 achieved significant, measurable performance that exceeded all other audio test systems,” stated Mike Flaherty, Audio Precision Chief Executive Officer. “With the introduction of the B Series APx555, its enhanced analogue generator and optional ADC Test Mode, the next-generation APx555 raises the performance bar yet again.”
With the introduction of the B Series APx audio analysers, two previous generations of Audio Precision analysers—the Legacy APx Series and the 2700 Series analysers—are now in “Limited Supply” and this announcement serves as the formal end-of-life announcement for both instrument families. Orders for Legacy APx analysers will be accepted until June 2019. Orders for 2700 Series analysers will be accepted until December 2019.
Pricing for B Series APx audio analysers is the same as their Legacy APx counterparts. This includes the B Series APx555 with its enhanced analogue generator (EAG). The EAG factory upgrade for Legacy APx555 analysers retails for $6,000 and includes version 5.0 software for upgrades ordered by June 28, 2019. The ADC Test Mode option is listed at $3,000.
