FAQ – Admin
Q. What is the process for having a loudspeaker measured?
A. The work flow goes like this:
- You send us information on the product. This can be drawings, picts, cut sheets, website link or just a verbal description.
- We provide a quotation for the testing, along with a description of what you will receive.
- We collaborate on a test date. Lead time is typically at least two weeks, but it can be longer. We can sometimes drop single loudspeakers into longer runs.
- You ship the loudspeaker to our Greenville address. It should arrive at least one week before the scheduled date so that we can check it out. Freight shipments should be marked Hold At Terminal for Customer Pickup and we will send a truck. Any freight carrier in the Louisville, KY metro area will work. We’ve used them all.
- Preliminary data files will be sent to you within one week of the test date, sometimes sooner.
- All loudspeakers must be returned to you. We ask that you have them picked up, or send us a Bill of Lading and we will deliver them to a freight terminal.
Q. What are the payment terms?
A. Net 30 Days. We accept Purchase Orders and will sign an NDA if necessary.
Q. Do you need multiple samples?
A. Typically no. Your technical staff should select and prepare the sample to be measured. It should be typical of what rolls off the assembly line.
Q. Are the samples returned to us in sell-able condition?
A. Yes. At worse there could be some scuffs or other normal wear. We do not drill holes or modify the sample in any way. We will pack it back up the way we received it.
Q. Are quantity discounts available?
A. Typically no, but there are exceptions. Please call or email to discuss.
FAQ – Technical
Q. What do you need from us, other than the sample to be tested?
A. We need the EXACT company name and loudspeaker model name. These will be encoded into the GLL and CLF data files. For EASE GLL files, we also need a company logo. Any graphics format will work. We can often glean these from the Internet.
Q. What is the size limit for loudspeakers that you can test?
A. For loudspeaker balloon data, it is a technical requirement that our measurement microphone be in the far-field of the source. Having tested hundreds of loudspeakers since 2005 we can say that in general the longest dimension of the source should not exceed 2 m and the lowest frequency for balloon data (based on our 8 m mic distance) is about 50 Hz. Virtually any source that meets the length criteria will be within the weight limits of our rotator (~500 lbs).
Far-field criteria are a bit complicated, so we will advise you of any concerns during the quotation process. With the CLF format, we can limit the frequency range of the data file to only include bands that meet the far-field criteria.
Q. Is validation of the data necessary?
A. If your loudspeaker is self-contained (e.g. passive crossover and/or self-powered) and you send us a measured axial response, we can validate the response before performing the balloon testing. If your loudspeaker requires external signal processing we will need to validate the settings before performing the balloon testing by comparing it to a reference measurement supplied by you, or by sending you a far-field axial sensitivity measurement for approval.
Q. Will our data be properly licensed for distribution?
A. Yes. For EASE GLL data, we will secure the proper EASE Authorizer file from AFMG. Our request will CC our contact at your company, and they may contact you for approval, or they may send the authorizer to you and you can forward it to us. If your GLL files are to be approved for EASE Focus or EASE Address, we will help you request the necessary licenses from AFMG. Our price quotes do not include these licensing fees, and they must be paid by you to AFMG before we can license the data.
For CLF data, PST is an authorized CLF author and your files will be ready for distribution when you receive them. No additional fees or licenses are required, even for array simulations that we have provided your with quotations for.
Q. Both GLL and CLF data files require cabinet wireframe drawings. Do we have to provide these?
A. PST will generate a simple wireframe, properly scaled, for the loudspeaker. If you wish to have something more detailed, you can provide a DXF drawing. Note that sometimes we must simplify these drawings to make them suitable for inclusion in the data files.
Q. What are your feelings on AES75 and M-Noise?
This requires a long answer. Here is a web page that I have set up to voice my concerns.
More questions?
We are happy to assist you!