Andy Peters said:
I'm just pointing out that you said, "RTA programs are more for checking out and setting up rooms. Other good freebies in that category are Holme Impulse and REW - Room Eq Wizard."
The implication here is two-fold. One: RTA programs are useful for checking out and setting up rooms, which is false. Two, you mention those two programs in the same line as "RTA programs ..." and the reader might assume that those programs are indeed RTA programs.
Well Andy, your implications are your implications (much more so than mine) and your statements of fact, and also yours. I don't appreciate having false claims stuffed into my mouth.
Lets look at your alleged facts. Are RTA programs utterly and totally useless for checking out and setting up rooms? Can you find even one independent authority other than yourself to back that up?
I can find dozens of recent articles on the web describing how to use pink noise and a RTA for loudspeaker and room setup. This is not proof that it is the best way, but it is evidence that people are still doing it and getting what they find to be useful results.
I think my words are pretty clear - pink noise RTA tests are outdated technology and have been superseded by newer technology, but they can still be used for checking out and setting up rooms if you are willing to accept their limitations. Lots of people still are,
Even the TrueRTA site says:
https://trueaudio.com/rta_abt1.htm "Measure the frequency response of a loudspeaker system using either pink noise or Quick Sweep."
They are clearly recommending the use of a RTA and pink noise for setting up rooms and loudspeakers (since you can't separate the sound of a loudspeaker from the effects of the room it is in).
Secondly, the implication that Holme Impulse and REW are the same is another one of your misunderstandings Andy, not anything I want to stand behind. What I meant is that they serve the same basic purpose - acoustical measurements. And, I find your misinterpretation of what I said to be demeaning and insulting. It ignores the fact that my recommendations on this site have always been of REW and Holme Impulse. Until now I've avoided RTA/Pink noise measurements.
For example, have I ever even mentioned on this site using any specific programs for RTA/pink noise testing. Note that I just quoted the TrueRTA site only because it says what it says, not as any kind of personal advocacy of their product.
For everybody who might be confused, while Holme Impulse and REW can be used for setting up rooms and speakers, they are not RTA/pink noise programs and use more recent and effective technology. RTA programs and pink noise testing have been legacy technology for setting up rooms and speakers, and still work to some degree.
But, since you can get good freeware that uses the more recent better technology, why pay for old technology?