Thoughts on REK RAG101 Audio Signal Generator?

[jviss]

These are available cheaply on eBay. Anyone have one? Thoughts?

Thanks,

jv

 

[BinaryMike]

Appears to be a Chinese version of the good old Wein bridge audio generator, but with higher distortion specs than the better designs of olde. It's probably a good choice for speaker testing and general audio test bench duty, but not for accurate distortion measurements. I didn't see a spec for frequency response flatness, so it might not be good for precise flatness checks either.

 

[splendidmike]

BinaryMike, EchoWars seems to more or less confirm your take in this sticky: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=333423

I just ordered one for $86 with free shipping from http://www.dealexcel.com/rek-rag101-low-frequency-signalgenerator_p3767.html

The ones I see on ebay right now come out to closer to $90 with shipping.

 

[feds27]

Could one use Audacity and a USB DAC like the PS Audio Digital link III as a signal generator? Or will the opamps in the DAC create more distortion than a Wien bridge oscillator? Also, do all of the Wien bridge oscillators use a lamp to reduce distortion?

 

[feds27]

THD for the PS Audio DL III is 0.0005%. Can I assume a sine wave through it would be better than the distortion via a Rek RAG-101?