Audio Test Tones

When you are tuning your amplifiers, you'll want to have some test tones on hand. It's fairly easy to create them, but took me a long time to get it working right. To save you guys the headaches, I'll share them here!

Big thanks to Realmofexcursion.com for the original tones.

Here's a list of tones that you will most likely need. I recommend contacting Mr Marv for instructions on how to properly use them.

1 kHz, 0dB
1 kHz, -3dB
1 kHz, -6dB

Left Channel Pink Noise
Right Channel Pink Noise

All tones are mp3 format, 1 minute in length.

If you don't see it here, try looking at Realmofexcursion.com. Please contact me if there's any others you need.

 

Thanks for posting!

 

Guess I got to learn something new, thanks for the post.

 

Here's a whole test disc I made. I even wrote commentary on all the tracks so you know what to listen for.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5688980/Keep/Clarity Tools.rar

(link updated 6/2/2016)

 

Thanks for posting!

 

ItalynStylion .... cannot get to the link you posted. can you please repost?

 

Chicken... Thanks again for tones. I have had them saved on my phone for ages, came in handy often!

 

For android users, search the Play store for "PA tone". Probably available for iWhatever too - I'm just not an apple guy.

Tone generator app you can load on your phone or tablet, you can dial in whatever tone you're looking for if your source unit has aux in.

 

When I set my gains, I ended up following Steve Meade's process and used his own test tones. Below is the link.

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/bo...ones-and-tuning-tutorial-all-new-links-again/

You can go either full conservative or otherwise liberal when selecting the dB level of tones to play. I picked somewhere in between, and ended up setting them with my head unit volume at a 32 of 35. At 35, I verified that my source signal is still 100% clean, so I still have some headway.

Ultimately for the normal interior speakers, I ended up backing them off significantly and setting them by ear rather than o-scope because they were way too loud and didn't seem balanced against the sub.

EXO on youtube also has a good overview video that explains what test tone level should be used for the type of music, and shows the process of using the scope..but its covered rather quickly. Steve Meade fully lays out the whole process.

 

This is the absolute best way to set gains. Not sure if it's mentioned in the SMD thread, but our ears are less sensitive to distortion at lower frequencies. That's why something like a -10dB track should be used for subs. I used a -5dB track for my mids and highs.

 

Just be aware that MP3 test tones on USB will be at very different levels than WAV test tones on CD. I found out the hard way last night.

 

What about a sine wave generator on a phone using bluetooth, wifi, or cast to a home avr?

 

Bluetooth from a phone won't even generate a steady signal. I was getting a 10% oscillation when I tried Bluetooth with my Samsung Galaxy S8. There's no way to get an accurate voltage reading when it's constantly moving. The Entune changes levels quite a bit between each input. Also if you're using Bluetooth, are you sending a signal at 100% volume or 80%? Same for any other remote input.