Basic measuring tools for DAC, Preamp, Power amp. Speaker

Basic measuring tools for DAC, Preamp, Power amp.

Objective:
Measuring the frequency response, THD, THD+Noise, Impulse response, Channel seperation, Spekaer frequency response, Room accoustic.
Use the min operation cost to archive.

Tools
RMAA (Right mark audio analyer, free download)
http://audio.rightmark.org/downloads/rmaa6.exe

Sound card. (KK use Creative Sound Blaster External as example, easy to do the measurement at outdoor, SB0270 model)

A X86 PC. Netbook is also OK.

RCA cable, USB cable (as short as possible), Mic for measuring the frequency response.

Procedure:
1. Do the loop back test. (Test the limitation of your sound card), see my result in the attached file. Or you can refer to the web site to check which sound card have better performance.
http://audio.rightmark.org/downloads/rmaa6.exe

2. For Preamp, Power amp, (Connect your gear between the loop back cable)
i.e. Sound card line out --> Preamp in  
Preamp out --> Sound card line in.
Repeat 1 to do the analysis of your preamp.

3. For Speaker / Room accoustic
Connect Sound card line out to your AMP in
Connect MIC to Sounc card MIC IN (You need to config MIC in in control panel)
Repeat 1.