Analyze HDMI audio streams
-- Test & Measurement World, 6/1/2008
Audio Precision has added support for testing High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI) 1.3 and Blu-ray audio to its eight-channel APx585 audio generator and analyzer. The option lets you test audio on sink (input) and source (output) devices.
For testing sink devices, the APx585 can generate lossless or compressed audio streams and then analyze the resulting analog output for frequency response, amplitude accuracy, noise, intermodulation distortion, and other parameters. The HDMI option also generates HDMI video streams that you can combine with audio streams to produce a full HDMI signal.
The audio generator lets you produce pulse-code modulated (PCM) audio on up to eight channels at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz with resolution up to 24 bits. Lossy audio streams operate at 48 kHz, 96 kHz, and 192 kHz, also with up to 24-bit resolution. In addition, the instrument generates Dolby Digital and Digital Surround audio streams over HDMI.
To test source devices, the APx585 with HDMI option can accept HDMI digital streams for a source, decode the audio portion, and perform the same audio measurements as it does for sink devices. The APx585 is controlled from a PC through a USB interface. Software that lets you set up and perform automated tests is included.
Audio Precision, www.ap.com.
