Dayton DATS v3 | An Absolute Must Have

The Dayton DATS v3 is the latest update to the versatile and extremely essential speaker impedance measurement tool (among other things) from Dayton. The DATS can be used to measure T/S parameters of transducers, determine port tuning of an enclosure, find resonance in a loudspeaker and a number of other tasks. This is truly a "must have" for any speaker geek, hobbyist or professional.
If you would like to purchase one while helping me fund my channel and tools I use for measuring loudspeakers please consider doing so by using one of the affiliate links below:
Amazon: geni.us/qcpbBg3 on Amazon (commissions earned)
Parts-Express: www.anrdoezrs.net/links/77320...
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[@HifiVega]

I agree it’s definitely a must buy I’ve gotta order myself the v3

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Do it! You won't! :D

[@salvatorehayes2753]

Awesome. I Really Wanted A SMD IM-SG Just To Check Box Tuning And Subwoofer Fs. (There's Alot Of Other Cool Things You Can Also Do With It) But That's Over $400. Now It Is Portable But Even Then $130 For This, A Cheap $100 Mini PC I'm Still Only Half Way And It Does So Much More And More Quickly Once Set Up. I Was Doing Port Tuning Calculations The Long Way With Multiple Tools (Multimeter, AC Amp Clamp) And Was Using A Tone Generator Through The Amp At Low Volume And Writing Everything Down And Then Calculating The Impedance At Each Hz lol. And These No Guarantee The Phone Outputs A Perfectly Constant Response At Each Hz And Same With The Amplifier etc. $130 I Think Is A Great Price. When I Heard About It Was Was Expecting The Dats 3 To Be About $300.

[@coldfinger459sub0]

Would be great to see you do the Klipsch speaker cabinet mods like interior bracing, adding NoRez or other heavy mass materials sound absorbing or sound deadening. And then show a sweep before and after results. Thanks for the update on the tool been thinking about getting one after seeing your video I think I will now thank you

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

It's not my speaker so I can't really do anything invasive. It did cross my mind when I reviewed them, though, just to prove to the anti-data people out there that the speaker left a lot to be desired.

[@FOH3663]

Gotta love Dayton

[@the_niceking7011]

For the frugal out there, you can make something similar that works with REW for a few bucks and some soldering. The main caveat is you need a computer with both an audio in and out jack which is becoming less common.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Yep. There's also a way to do it with aRTA. www.instructables.com/ARTA-Measurement-Box/

[@denizenofclownworld4853]

You should use an interface for that, anyway. Most PC audio sucks.

[@johnviera3884]

@@denizenofclownworld4853 REW measures simple impedance though the audio card. You need a soundcard with a LINE IN input for it to work correctly. (TRS) 3 conductors. It’s just as accurate, if not more accurate than the DATS v3 And what’s cooler than paying $129 for a DATs v3? Making your own for $20

[@rafagomezz7750]

tengo una duda al realizar la prueba al mismo parlante o BOSINA cambia sus parámetros en cada vez que se hace la prueba

[@dylantoney3322]

What if your tuning frequency isn’t at-0 phase? I’m using this for big car audio and I’m Still learning slot but I’m using the dats for impedance sweep my 6th order wall

[@beardedgaming3741]

are any of you aware of a hand held RTA? maybe 1/6 octave that has two wire input? i want it for car audio to hook to factory wiring and see if the factory amps/radio have xovers on the signal in a hurry

[@Nightjar726]

Erin, if you wanted to, could you fix that resonance you heard in the Cab?

[@Venki7744]

Thanks Erin for the Quick and insightful review! I have been a user of WT3 in the past before I switched to Woofer Tester 2(Smith&Larson). I have been using WT2 ever since to do my measurements. This year I finally got hold off DATSv3 and one thing I immediately noticed that the results produced by DATSv3 and WT2 are different! I dont have many speakers lying around but I did test few HAT speakers and both measurement came out different and that too much different than published specs. Just a note here, I measured without breakin the speaker, however I do believe parameters like Le, Qes should remain more or less same. The speaker I used was HAT Legatia L4. Do let me know if you would like to see the results.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I used to own the S&L WT2. Was a nice unit. I used it for the T/S testing before I put the drive units on the Klippel stand for excursion measurements. Interesting you got different results but that could be due to the stimulus and/or drive level differences (I assume there is some difference).

[@Venki7744]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Thanks again for your reply! Let me do couple of more test and revert back. By the way I am using the same driver and taking back to back measurements with these two units.

[@Llegando_Tarde]

Thanks for the video, do you have any videos on how to read these impedance charts?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

None explicitly, though I do discuss impedance results from various loudspeakers I have tested in their respective reviews.

[@Paulscole3]

Ok, I've got one for you. I have a Monitor Audio 12" that I used the DATs v3 on, and when I tried measuring the VAS, it told me to add more weight than the 506g that I had on there. I kept going up and up and it keeps telling me to add mas, and I'm up to 4094 g and it's still saying it's not enough! What the heck???!!! Any advice?

[@johnsweda2999]

Yeah that's 110k you resonance you should be able to sort that out with a 5mm thick bead of blue tack as a gasket around the driver and around the midrange and tweeter won't do any harm be beneficial less smearing from the woofer. The impedance was a little bit lower as well would like to seen it a bit higher 1 or 2 db and all of them bought in tighter. Might be worth sticking some natural wool fleece half an inch thick folded over on the back only that should bring the impedance together. Try that sound a lot better. what capacitors type and make do they have in the crossover and resistors. Yes I would like that dats2 no way buying one, i don't do Facebook got an email. What operating system's does it work on? You know the resonance break up of the klipsch driver's ?

[@jasonw6993]

Great job! Video quality is better too. I need that too. :(

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thank you, sir!

[@ANDYSOUND1]

Agreed! Nice subdued background defocusing from what it’d seem like a full frame Sony or Canon mirrorless camera perhaps? Footage looks Pro 😊👌🏻

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

Nice review. How about doing the WT2 from Smith and Larson? I have used one of these for years. Replaced a very flaky WT3 from Parts Express. Rock solid and extremely repeatable.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I used to have one of those back in the day. I loved that thing. Don't even remember why I liked it so much... don't even know why I sold it. But, I no longer have it so I wouldn't have the means to purchase it for review. I do like their other offerings though, like their Pro units. Thing I wonder is if they still create software for it (windows updates, namely Windows 10).

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

@@ErinsAudioCorner I have the Woofers Tester Pro. It can do just about everything a Klippel system can do and a few things Klippel cannot do. But. It is Windows 7 only. I have gotten it to work on Windows 8 for a client but Windows 10 is never going to happen. The reason is that Smith &Larson do not have a digitally signed version of their driver. So Windows 10 will not install it. THe capabiolites of the Woofer Tester Pro are kind of scary when you really get to use it. Worth is in my eyes. I have had it since 2009. I continue to use it. Exceptionally accurate. And very consistent with any Klippel measurements that i have had to compare to.

[@nickfountain8420]

Would be curious if you could recommend any source material for going down a rabbit hole in regards to amplifier specs, speaker specs, and what the specs for each can tell you about the products?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

One book that I highly recommend is Vance Dickason's "Loudspeaker Design Cookbook": amzn.to/2Y4xbah Another one I used when I started measuring speakers was Joseph D'Appolito's "Testing Loudspeakers". I still reference it from time to time: amzn.to/2M1BWia

[@jstrahn]

andddd another audio tool I need to buy. Your channel is going to cost me money. Thanks...I think. :)

[@patswazent]

hi, i have a question, when you test the enclosure fs, doesnt the internal crossover would affect this reading ? lets say the cross over is not ideal...would the dats still be able to tell enclusure fs ? thanks.

[@geokrilov]

The tuning point with cross looks lower than that of the driver without cross. And the Qport will be worse w bit. So you should have coils with iron core (low R) on the bass in a 3 way system. But not ferrite!

[@81stefan1]

Thanks 🙏

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching. :)

[@hassanhassan-xm4ue]

please tel my where is the measurment mic of dats v3 ,how you measue, i dont see the mic in these video....thenks

[@geokrilov]

It is Thiele Small parameters - you don't need a mic. In fact you should measure TS parameters the other way.

[@cartruck1070]

Thank you. Any way to test the accuracy of this product?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I have compared the results against what I obtained with the Klippel in the past. They are similar. Keep in mind conditions such as temperature, voltage sweep level and even mounting can all impact the result.

[@geokrilov]

120Hz is not a standing wave. The lowest standing wave in your cabinet will и about 240Hz. So, you should look somewhere else. First - tighten the screws. If it does not help - take the bass driver out and measure impedance. If there is no 120Hz peak - look inside the cabinet and see if there are holes in the bass cabinet. the holes could be to the room or to the mid volume. If it is the driver - it could be resonance of the magnet on the basket.

[@wedsg]

I remember one of the creators of the woofertester 2 claiming that the second version of dats was a pretty blatant rip off of their woofer tester software and hardware, like they even found some exact code that was disassembled from it, also claimed their capacitor measurement was pretty mediocre in terms of accuracy when compared to the original.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Interesting.

[@johnmurphy3619]

These were false claims made by a disgruntled competitor. I assure you that DATS hardware and software are my own novel designs created for Dayton Audio. jlm

[@AbstractDreamz]

Erin, I do not remember. You can test sealed enclosures with this too right? I remember I used to have woofer tester but lost it somewhere. Thanks from NDM on DIYMA.... Also the Oscilloscope function of this this alone makes it a valuable tool.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Yes, you can test sealed enclosures as well. Many, many uses for this tool. Oh, and nice to see you here!😀

[@jayinmi3706]

Can you use this to determine group delay on vented enclosures?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

You would need to measure that acoustically.

[@casey360360]

You need yourself a measurement microphone.

[@jayinmi3706]

@@casey360360 Good. I have several. Thanks.

[@paulb4661]

How does it compare to Audiomatica Clio pocket edition ? Anyone ?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Not used that so I can't comment on it.

[@AdnanKhan-eh5sy]

Dear Erin can dats v3 find out crossover points of unknown passive crossover??

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

No, it won't tell you the exact crossover points.

[@anandshah71]

Erin can it saw even approx if not exact , I have a few networks and no data saved suggest how to please

[@gregmiller3630]

Adnan, I don't own the DATS system but from what I read it should be possible if you load your test results from DATS into X-Sim or a similar crossover design program. The first thing you would have to do would be to measure the impedance of the drivers you are planning to use with the crossover, as that's critical to getting any type of accuracy in the simulation. Once the driver(s) are measured, the DATS system should be able to generate an impedance plot (.zma file) that you can load into X-Sim for each driver. As an alternative, if it's a common driver the manufacturer may publish an impedance plot and frequency response graph from which you can manually create both a .zma and .frd file using a program called FP Graph Tracer. (It's accuracy is iffy, but it does actually work) Once you have the driver part done, you can then recreate the crossover layout in X-Sim and it will reverse engineer the crossover, giving you a pretty accurate response plot of the filter function and frequency response. If you don't know the values of the components in your crossover, you should still be okay as from what I read the DATS system can also be used to measure the values of the capacitors and inductors in your crossover. So I guess my answer would be the DATS system by itself won't do what you're asking for, but combined with a crossover simulation program, there's no reason why not. 'Hope that helps.

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

Erin, do you feel that it's worth to replace the WT3 with the DATS v3?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I honestly don’t recall the differences. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve owned the WT3. I think it would also depend on what you use it for. If it’s the standard impedance sweeps then maybe not.

[@johnbooth3]

I would replace it. The WT3 is a little finicky to get to work and even harder with Windows 10 PC's. I have the WT3, DATS v2, and now the DATS v3. The v2 was way better than the WT3 in how it would connect to the PC and work without much effort. I found it hard to get the WT3 to connect and be stable. I do remember it taking up to 30min for it to start to give repeatable results. The v2 would work as soon as you plugged it in, minding that you had it already calibrated. The v3 is just so much nicer. With the removable cables, you can use longer USB cable, different test leads, etc.

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

@@johnbooth3 Thank you. I haven't used my WT3 for a while. I don't recall any of the issues that you have mentioned. But I was running it on Windows XT. Also a friend of mine (who also has the WT3) found it to be fully compatible with the DATS software. But if DATS v3 is so much better maybe I'll get it too.

[@johnbooth3]

@@IliyaOsnovikov WT3 will work on DATS v2 software. Not sure on DATS v3 Software though. It still does work but just takes some time to "warm up" compared to the DATS v2 unit. If you are thinking about upgrading, DATS v3 would be the best option.

[@8bit1992]

Can i use it to draw impedance curve in compression driver? Is it safe?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I’d say so. I use it for small tweeters without issue. A compression driver should be fine.

[@8bit1992]

@@ErinsAudioCorner thank you, . Have you compared it with more expensive analogues? Is it accurate?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

It’s accurate.

[@smamas114]

HMM i think i need one :D

[@drrckhamilton]

Bummer that I don't have social media

[@DIYAudioGuy]

$3,000 for a speaker with no internal bracing? Sounds like a good excuse to build my own. 🙂

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Right?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@ErinsAudioCorner I have a DATS sitting here, I have not had a chance to do anything with it. After watching this I need to get it out. I did not realize that it could sniff out problems in the speaker response.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Yep. It is a very useful tool. 🙂

[@reidtowsley5029]

Must be a paid adversitement for Dayton lol. DATS is for newbies - real DIYers will attach a resistor to some scrap wire and be done with it :)

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I guess I’m a newbie. And been one since 2008 when I first got a WT3. But thanks for the comment! 😎

[@reidtowsley5029]

@@ErinsAudioCorner All good, I was just joking, WT3/DATS is a good "plug and play" tool, however at the end of the day it is just a USB audio codec with a resistor feedback loop built-in. I used to have WT3 some years back, then moved to a 2 channel measurement system for speaker design, that included a simple resistor jig to do everything the WT3 does and more, never looked back.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

@@reidtowsley5029 no worries. I figured you were kidding. 😉

[@bobaloo2012]

5 minutes in and not a clue as to what it actually does...remember not everyone knows what you're talking about.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Well, lucky for you it is after the 5 minute mark where I provide examples. ;) I do understand what you mean, though. That said, if you go to the DATS website they don't give you a layman's version of what the product is. It is assumed that if you are looking at it then you know. This is the most "basic" information shared: "Any engineer knows that valid and accurate data is crucial to great results. DATS (Dayton Audio Test System) V3 is the essential tool in any speaker designers or audio engineers toolbox, providing accurate, precise measurement data for any audio transducer or loudspeaker system. Save yourself time, money, and trial-and-error frustration by using DATS V3 to measure loudspeaker drivers, crossover networks, and complete audio systems! DATS V3 is a unique, multipurpose test system that works with your PC and full-featured test software to measure the impedance response of a speaker driver and derive a complete set of Thiele/Small parameters that describe its operation. Its as easy as connecting a driver and starting the test! The DATS V3 measurement module provides the electrical stimulus to the driver, measures the drivers impedance on the fly, and then creates a high-resolution graph (30,000 data points!) with no additional hardware required." See what I mean? When I purchased my first one back in 2008 or 2009 I didn't know much about what it did other than it was used to help build enclosures. No videos talking about it. No writeups telling me what it does. I just learned. I get not everyone understands the most basic things but discussing the basics of enclosure modeling, speaker building and other cases where a tool such as this would also be employed would be an entirely different video or put this in to the 30 minute category. Or something someone would have to be willing to research; as I did when I first started. At any rate, I hope you watched the rest of the video. It certainly had actual examples of the functions of this product. If you want to learn more about what to do with the results then you would need to look in to how to model subwoofer/speaker enclosures; something this video was not intended to do. I do appreciate the reply and will keep this in mind for future videos. 👍