My recent visit to the new LinearX headquarters in Battle Ground, WA, confirmed that this very powerful new audio analyzer is finally going into production. LinearX is working night and day to start deliveries on the LX500.
Founded in 1993, LinearX is a private corporation focused on the development of PC based computer aided engineering software and electroacoustic measurement systems, for the electronics and electroacoustics markets. The initial first two products, LEAP and LMS, have enjoyed widespread usage and acceptance in the loudspeaker design field, with LEAP holding a very high market share, and a worldwide reputation as the #1 premier tool for professional loudspeaker development.
LMS, one of the loudspeaker industries true measurement analyzer success stories — selling more than 6,000 units over a 20 year period — has been overdue for replacement for some time now, considering it works on an ISA bus, a computer standard that was abandoned in 1999. The LMS’s USB-interface replacement, the LX500 is significantly more advanced than the venerable LMS analyzer, and has more than five times the parts count!
Ultimately, there will be three versions of the LX500, a frequency domain version, a time domain version, and a dual domain version. The first release will be the frequency domain version, as shown in the photos.
Figure 1 shows the block diagram for the frequency domain version. The list of features is seriously impressive. The main circuit board is populated by 34 single in-line package (SIP) daughter boards for the dual domain version. Initial calibration of the LX500 is extremely time consuming, which lead LinearX to implement robotics into their production sequence. The new LX500 costs $3,195. For more information, including the detailed specifications check the Voice Coil December 2014 issue or visit www.linearx.com.
