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Smaart ZBox

This document describes a setup using an RCA ZBox connected to Smaart software to measure impedances of audio equipment. It uses 2kΩ resistors as a pseudo-constant current source that can drive most audio interfaces. A DPDT switch allows measuring balanced inputs/outputs by switching between pins. Calibrated with a 200Ω resistor, it provides reasonable accuracy below 500Ω. Examples are given of impedance measurements of various audio gear that differed significantly from manufacturer specs.

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TabletaUnica
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19 views

Smaart ZBox

This document describes a setup using an RCA ZBox connected to Smaart software to measure impedances of audio equipment. It uses 2kΩ resistors as a pseudo-constant current source that can drive most audio interfaces. A DPDT switch allows measuring balanced inputs/outputs by switching between pins. Calibrated with a 200Ω resistor, it provides reasonable accuracy below 500Ω. Examples are given of impedance measurements of various audio gear that differed significantly from manufacturer specs.

Uploaded by

TabletaUnica
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Smaart ZBox

RCA

2 XLR
2kΩ 2kΩ 3 Male
1
RCA

XLR
RCA
Female
DPDT
Switch

GND
TRS
Jack

Notes
1. SIA Smaart v5.x with linear amplitude scale can be used to measure impedances of loudspeakers as
well as input and output Z of audio electronics.
2. Parallel 2kΩ resistors used for pseudo-constant current source that is an easy load for any audio
interface to drive.
3. DPDT switch allows measurement of balanced inputs and outputs by switching between pin 2 / tip or
pin 3 / ring while shunting the other side to ground.
4. When calibrated with a 200Ω resistor, this setup produces reasonable accuracy below 500Ω. For
higher impedance measurements Smaart is useful to spot trends across the frequency range of
interest, but for accuracy you’ll need to load the ZBox returns with a much higher input impedance
than that of a typical audio interface.
5. Smaart does not plot impedances higher than 250Ω by design, though the values are still displayed
numerically when you move the mouse horizontally through the graph area. You can get the higher
Z’s to graph in Smaart if you lie to it by calibrating to a 1kΩ resistor and telling Smaart the resistor is
only 100Ω.
Applications
1. I have found significant differences between manufacturer impedance specs vs. actual. The Alesis
HD24 EC-2 hard disk recorder spec’s 10kΩ for its balanced inputs, but measures 50kΩ. The Sony
SRP-F300 loudspeaker processor publishes a 47Ω balanced output Z, but actually measures only
2.4Ω.
2. It is interesting to see pin 2 vs. pin 3 differences on “impedance balanced” outputs. Some
manufacturers match the resistor in series with pin 3 closely to pin 2’s active output and some don’t.
The Allen & Heath GL3300 console demonstrates examples of both on its TRS output jacks. The
channel “direct outputs” have resistors on the “rings” that are within ½ Ω of the active “tips”, but the
TRS outputs in the console’s main output sections are poorly matched, differing by as much as 30Ω.
It is also interesting to see the TRS insert jacks’ input vs. output Z with the flip of the switch. I found
that the GL3300 insert jack return (ring) Z is a rather low 3kΩ (2.5kΩ with the EQ switched out), which
could be a little rough on some effects units.

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