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Thanks for the reply! I had come across some schematics similar to what you described; I'll look into them some more.

quote]Tomi, I have a question: you mention the level testing functionality. I am also looking for a device that does this. What kind of unit do you use?[/quote]

I have made my level testing mostly with my homebuilt portable VU meter.
It is a quite small unit that has 12 LED VU meter that has measuring range of -16 dBu to +3dBu. The circuit is based on the old Velleman VU meter kit (exactly same kit has not been available for years) that was slightly modified to better suit to my needs: few resistor values changed to make the unit to work from 9V battery nicely (original unit was designed for +12V operation).

My unit was built into small portable case that has needed connectors in it. My unit has female RCA and XLR connectors installed in case (for other connector types I need to test I use short adapter cables). The unit has been hand calibrated (the kit has potentiometer for cablibrating) agains some reliable known reference signal level (measured with other accurate VU meter and multimeter). This meter has served me many years well on the field what I have worked with PA systems, computer multimedia setups and TV broadcastings systems.

I don't have any specific recommendation for a commercial unit for this sampe purpose. I know that such things exist, but not enough experience on them to recommend any. I think that there are also some multimeters with good enough bandwith for audio applications and useable dB range built into them.

I also use this device at work (radio station/recording studio) and it's great. Very handy, especially since it links all the different inputs (i.e., the cable you are testing doesn't have to have the same connector on both ends - any combination of connectors will work, 1/4" to XLR, 1/8" to RCA, etc.)

Tomi, I have a question: you mention the level testing functionality. I am also looking for a device that does this. What kind of unit do you use? I'm having a hard time finding products because I don't know exactly what to search for. What I need is a little box like this that will tell me the dB signal levels on a line I plug into it. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

Behringer's Cable Tester CT100 is a very good cable tester.
It can accept XLR, mono and TRS phone ( 1 /4 ", 1 /8 ", TT), RCA and MIDI connectors. This device shows which input pin is connected to which output pin. This is a very convient feature when you are working in audio system with unknown cables. The continuity check allows you also so check if there is a bad connection: just put in the cable, press one button and wait of any LEDs indicating break kin connection shows up showing that there is a bad connection in the cable.

The tone generator functionality is a very useful in audio system testing on those case you need to have some signal generator. There are also LEDs to show the availability of phantom power presence.

I have found this device to be very useful. wel built and well worth of the money. Definetely the best audio cable tester in this price range.


Manufacturer home page: http://www.behringer.com/

Manufacturer product web page: http://www.behringer.com/CT100/index.cfm?lang=ENG

Price: 52 Euros (price information from http://www.thomann.de/ )

Product image (from product home page):

[img]http://www.behringer.com/CT100/CT100_medium.jpg[/img]


Ideas what would be nice to have in this device: I would like very much if this device had also built-in audio signal level (VU) meter, so this device could be used also to monitor audio signals on audio lines. This would save the trouble of having a separate signal level meter with me.