Dayton Audio DATS V3 Computer Based Audio Component Test System

This is a specialist item and only any use to speaker designers / builders.The build quality is very good. Nice aluminium case, good quality connectors and cables.Software works well (Win10) and has some very useful functions for getting all the required parameters from a speaker / drive unit. No more guess work.For Example: I have a pair of very nice 6.5" drive units, but someone had ripped the manufacturers label off the back. I had no idea what they where and therefore no specs, which made it almost impossible to design a cabinet and cross over. The DATS unit solved that, by allowing me to measure all the TS parameters.It can also measure the actual port tuning frequency so you can check you've got that right as well.It can also measure component values (LCR) which helps check that caps and coils are actually the value they claim.I also like the fact that it is USB powered so no external power supply is required.If I had to be critical, I would like the software to have a slightly larger font and be able to keep measurements on the screen for direct comparison.

This is must have tool for speakers buildersYou can measure any driver, capacitor, resistor or inductor and get required information to calculate the speaker box design

If you're looking at LCR meters for audio applications, don't bother - just get this.It will do everything an LCR does and more, with better accuracy than cheap meters.I have found the information this has provided me absolutely invaluable and learned alot in the process of testing inductors, capacitors, speaker drivers and cable.Great bit of kit, very convenient and very informative

Absolute must for any speaker builder. You'd be amazed at the variations between manafacturer TS parameters and actual measured, even with more expensive driver's.Also a great help with getting accurate ZMA files for crossover design.Very nicely put together also.

Using Windows 10, fully updated, there are a couple of minor issues.First, I have found that if I don't enter the test box volume and driver diameter straight away on starting the software, then often I can't enter them at all. The keyboard interface stops accepting numbers, or else it repeats them as if a key were stuck. It crashes the computer. This doesn't happen with other software on this PC.Secondly, you might need to dial back some windows 10 'additional security' settings for the DATS to work at all. This isn't mentioned in the otherwise good manual.Thirdly, the frequency accuracy can be close to a semitone 'wrong' for some waveforms and frequencies of the signal generator.However, I am very pleased with the product overall if these issues can be sidestepped; and I would have no difficulty recommending it for the purposes of characterising and testing the T/S parameters of drivers in air and in their boxes.