Phonic PAA3X User manual

PAA3X User's Manual
Manual del Usuario

English Español
Audio Analyzer with Color LCD
Analizador de Audio con LCD Colorizado
ENGLISH I
ESPAÑOL II
APPENDIX III
V1.3 11/15/2016
PAA3X

INTRODUCTION 1
FEATURES 1
PACKAGE CONTENTS 1
CONTROLS & DISPLAY 2
GETTING STARTED 4
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW 4
MICROPHONE CONNECTION 6
AUDIO ANALYSIS FUNCTIONS 6
Real Time Analyzer (RTA) 6
Reverb Time (RT60) 8
Meter 10
Polarity 11
SCREEN CAPTURE 12
SETTINGS 12
MICROPHONE CALIBRATION 13
SIGNAL GENERATOR 14
UTILITY 14
FIRMWARE UPDATE 15
OPERATING TIPS 15
SPECIFICATIONS 16
APPENDIX
DIMENSIONS 1
CONTENTS
USER'S MANUAL
English
Phonic reserves the right to improve or alter any information
within this document without prior notice.

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1. Read these instructions before operating this
apparatus.
2. Keep these instructions for future reference.
3. Heed all warnings to ensure safe operation.
4. Follow all instructions provided in this document.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water or in locations
where condensation may occur.
6. Clean only with dry cloth. Do not use aerosol or liquid
cleaners. Unplug this apparatus before cleaning.
7. Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install
in accordance with the manufacturer
’ s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including
.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades
with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug
has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide
blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not into your outlet, consult
an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or
pinched particularly at plug, convenience receptacles,
and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories by the
manufacturer.
12. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or
table by the manufacturer, or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution
when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-
over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lighting
storms or when unused for long
periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to service personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus has been
damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or
plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has
been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate
normally, or has been dropped.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)
NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated
“ dangerous voltage ” within the
product
’
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is in-
tended to alert the user to the presence of important operat-
ing and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of or electric shock, do
not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
CAUTION: Use of controls or adjustments or performance
of procedures other than those may result in
hazardous radiation exposure.
The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that no objects with liquids, such as vases,
shall be placed on the apparatus. The MAINS plug is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall
remain readily operable.
Warning: the user shall not place this apparatus in the area during the operation so that the mains switch
can be easily accessible.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN

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INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the
Phonic PAA3X professional audio analyzer
– a highly accurate audio analyzer that sits
comfortably in the palm of your hand and
features all the tools you need to set up any
audio system.
With 61-band real-time spectrum analysis,
sound pressure and dBu / dBV / line voltage
measurement, EQ setting, polarity check, and
RT-60, the PAA3X is the ideal companion for
all sound engineers. Built upon the popular
PAA3, this professional audio analyzer is
powered by a long-life lithium-ion battery and
o󰀨ers a detachable microphone and balanced
XLR input and output, ensuring all audio anal-
ysis situations are possible. With the PAA3X,
you will no doubt conquer the acoustics of all
environments with precision and ease.
Phonic understands the importance of sound
reproduction management. We know that,
as this is your profession, your rst – and
perhaps only – concern is sound quality. Con-
sequently, with an audio tool like the PAA3X,
you expect a precise rule to obtain accurate
measurements and guarantee the best pos-
sible quality of sound that any professional
would expect. We at Phonic took the utmost
of care in ensuring the PAA3X is an extremely
accurate and e󰀨ective means for you to gather
all the data necessary to determine what your
set up needs.
To help you familiarize yourself with the
PAA3X, this manual includes instructions and
tips on every function listed in the main menu
and sub-menus. It is recommended that you
take the time to have a read of it. After doing
so, store it in an easily accessible place in
case it’s needed in future.
FEATURES
● Powerful palm-size audio analyzer
● 320 x 240 color LCD screen
● Detachable condenser mic can be placed
in remote positions
● Elegant graphical user interface
● Useful functions include RTA, RT-60, Po-
larity and Meter (dB SPL, dBu, dBV & Volt)
● 30 - 130 dB SPL meter
● Tone generator includes pink noise, sine
wave, sweep and polarity signals
● Snapshot button for taking instant screen
captures saved to SD card
● Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
● USB port for charging
● SD card slot included for screen snapshots
PACKAGE CONTENTS
● PAA3X unit
● USB cable and power adapter
● Microphone stand adaptor
● 5 meter microphone extension cable
● Owner’s manual
● Soft carry case
● SD card

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CONTROLS & DISPLAY
1. Power Button
Push and hold this button for 3 seconds to turn
on the PAA3X. When the unit is on, users can
push and hold the button for 3 seconds to turn
o󰀨 the unit, saving their settings at the same time.
2. Microphones Connector
This port is for included precision microphone.
When connected, the user is able to take mea-
surements with the PAA3X. As the microphone
is removable, an extension cable may be utilized
to better position the microphone. When not in
use, the microphone can be stored allowing the
PAA3X to better t in your pocket.
3. Color Screen
All features, functions and controls of the PAA3X
can be viewed using this display window. All
features can be controlled using the on board
controls or the jog control on the side.
4. Enter Button
Press this button to move from Real Time Spec-
trum Analyzer (RTA) display to the PAA3X’s main
menu. After moving the cursor to a desired func-
tion in the menu using the right/down or left/up
buttons, press the enter button to select.
5. Left / Up Button
Press this button to scroll up or to the left of the
currently selected option.
6. Right / Down Button
Press this button to scroll down or to the right of
the currently selected option.
7. Capture Button
Press this button to instantly take a snapshot of
the PAA3X’s screen. These snapshots are can
be kept indenitely on the inserted SD card, or
transferred to a computer. Snapshots are saved
in BMP format, easily opened on all operating
systems. Image size is 320KB with an image
resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. If no SD card is
inserted, the image will not be saved.
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8. Jog Control
Jog control, on the left-hand side of this unit,
provides users with a hassle free method of
scrolling menus and selecting options with a
single hand. Simply rotate to scroll up and down
menus and push the wheel inwards to select (to
either enter a menu or nalize a setting). Alter-
nately, the three function buttons (points 4 to 6
on page 2) may also be used to scroll options
and nalize selections. However, with a little
practice, this jog wheel is perhaps the fastest
way to use the PAA3X.
9. SD Memory Card Slot
Insert an appropriate SD memory card into this
slot to save screen captures. The SD card must
be formatted in FAT-32 le format. Please be
aware that formatting the SD card will remove
all content.
10. Power LED
This LED indicator will light up green when the
PAA3X is turned on. When the USB connector
is connected to an appropriate power adapter
or computer, this LED will ash to indicate the
battery is charging.
11. USB Connector
This USB port is used for charging the PAA3X’s
built-in battery. Please use the included power
adapter only (5VDC, 2A).
12. Balanced XLR Input
This balanced input allows users to feed signals
from external devices to the PAA3X to take vari-
ous readings in any number of functions. To use
the XLR input as your input source, select “Line
in” as the system’s primary input source.
13. Balanced XLR Output
This connector is for sending a balanced signal
from the internal tone generator to external de-
vices. The level of the output signal is determined
by the internal signal generator.
14. Stand Mount
A stand mount is located on the rear of the
PAA3X. This allows for connection to a tripod
or any other stand that has a standard ¼”-20
connecting screw. These are often found on
camera tripods. Also included with the PAA3X is
a stand adapter, allowing the unit to be mounted
on microphone stands as well.
15. Battery Cover
The PAA3X’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery
can be found within this battery cover. In the
event you will not use the PAA3X for an extended
period of time, Phonic suggests removing the
battery to preserve its integrity.
16. Mic Slot
Place the detachable microphone here when
not in use.
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GETTING STARTED
When you initially start the PAA3X, the rst
screen you’ll see is the startup sequence. This
occurs each and every time you start up the
PAA3X and goes through a quick diagnostics
to ensure there are no DSP issues that may
a󰀨ect performance.
After the DSP diagnostics are complete, the
PAA3X logo will appear and a yellow bar will
make its way across the screen. This indicates
that the PAA3X’s internal user interface (UI) is
loading.
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW
1. Date – Today’s date is displayed here. This
can be changed within the Utility menu.
2. Time – The current time is displayed here. Like
the date, this can be adjusted in the Utility menu.
3. Source – The currently used input source is
listed here, as decided in the Settings menu. The
two available input sources are Mic and Line.
4. Battery Indicator – This little bar gives users
an indication of the current battery levels. When
the indicator turns red, it’s advised that you con-
nect the USB power cable to charge the unit.
5. Range and Peak Hold Buttons – Use the
onboard controls to select either of these buttons
and turn their respective functions on and o󰀨.
The range icon allows you to adjust the current
range on set. The RTA and meter functions only
show a specic range on screen at any time. This
means that to see the full 30dB to 130dB range
you will need to scroll up or down.
The peak hold icon allows users to activate a
peak hold on the current function. The peak hold
function will cause the highest signal peaks to
be held for a short period of time, giving a better
visual representation of these high peaks.
6. Signal Generator (SG) – The current set-
tings for the internal signal generator are found
here. Show are the signal type (sine, sweep,
pink noise, polarity), the current frequency (if
appropriate, 20Hz to 20KHz) and the signal
level, as output through the XLR Output on the
bottom of the unit.
Selecting the uppermost cell will allow you to
enter the signal generator menu and adjust its
settings, including the type of signal, the level,
frequency and gate time. Select the second and
third elds in the SG box to adjust the frequency
and level. The lowest box, with the speaker icon,
will allow users to turn the SG on and o󰀨. This
icon is yellow when the signal generator is active
and red (with a cross through it) when disabled.
Once the startup sequence has nished, the
PAA3X will immediately start the Real Time Ana-
lyzer (RTA) function. This is the default function
of the PAA3X. A new function can be selected
by using either the front-mounted buttons (↑/←,
↓/→ and enter) or the side-mounted jog wheel
to select the menu icon on screen.
When selecting a measurement function, it’s
important to remember that all of the functions
can be turned on and o󰀨. The below images
should help you know whether your selected
function is running or not.
Running
Not Running

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7. Run/Stop Icon – Turn the current function on
and o󰀨 by selecting this on screen icon using
the PAA3X’s controls. A standing red stick-gure
indicates the current function is not active. The
green running stick-gure shows the current
function is, well, running.
8. Menu Icon – The currently used function will
be displayed here. To select a new function,
simply use the PAA3X’s controls to select this
icon. This will bring up the Main menu (shown
below). Within the main menu there are options
for function, settings, utility and screen shot.
9. Weighting – The currently used weighting,
as determined in the Settings menu, will be
displayed here. The PAA3X has 4 weightings
to choose from: Flat, A, B and C. To change
the weighting, select the Menu icon followed by
the Settings icon in the subsequent menu. The
weighting settings can be found here.
10. Frequency – When checking the ner details
of the current feature, this window will display
the currently selected frequency. When a specic
frequency is not selected, this eld will read “All”.
To select an individual frequency, scroll through
the different options until the RTA itself is
highlighted. Press enter and scroll through the
various frequencies until you nd the one you
wish to view.
11. Level – This eld will show the level of the
currently selected frequency (as explained in
point 10). The level will be shown in dB SPL,
dBu, dBV or Volts, depending on the currently
selected function and/or parameter.
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MICROPHONE CONNECTION
Unlike previous versions of the Phonic Personal
Audio series, the PAA3X has a detachable mi-
crophone that can be connected directly to the
unit or placed remotely through the 5 meter
extension cable.
When inserting the microphone into the micro-
phone slot, the release button must be facing the
front of the PAA3X, as shown below.
AUDIO ANALYSIS
On the following pages we will discuss the
various audio analysis functions that the PAA3X
provides. There are four main functions in total,
all of which are easily accessible through the
function menu. If at any point you wish to access
a new feature, simply use the controls to select
the function icon to bring up the function menu.
Real Time Analyzer (RTA)
This function analyzes the audio received
through either the built-in microphones or line in
connectors, divided into a number of separate
bands in 1/3rd or 1/6th octave resolution. Each
frequency band is graphed as a vertical bar on
the RTA, the height of which represents the level
– whether in dB SPL, dBu, etc – of the individual
octave or sub-octave bands. A 60 dB range is
displayed at any one time, and users can scroll
up the page slightly if clipping occurs, or scroll
down if the results aren’t visible.
Frequencies from 20 Hz to 20 kHz can be
monitored individually by selecting the frequency
band on screen. The level and frequency will
appear to the left of the screen. Measurements
can be taken at four di󰀨erent response times
(35 ms, 125 ms, 250 ms, and 1 sec) and in four
weighting types (A weighting, B weighting, C
weighting and Flat). For more info on response
times and weighting, please consult the appro-
priate sections.
The mic is removed by pushing the release
button on the base of the microphone and slid-
ing it out.
Phonic have also included a 5 meter exten-
sion cable, as previously mentioned. This can
be used along with the mic stand adapter to
remotely place the microphone.

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Procedure for taking acoustic measurements:
1. Within the Menu screen, enter Settings.
Adjust the source to “Mic” by selecting this
eld and scrolling up or down.
2. Select the ‘octave’ settings you wish to use
for your calculations. Users can select from
1/3 octave resolution (for a total of 31 bands)
and 1/6 octave resolution (for a total of 61
bands).
3. Also on the Settings screen (displayed below),
set the appropriate weighting. The most com-
mon weighting used for acoustical analysis is
perhaps A-weighting, as it closely mimics the
conditions of human hearing. Phonic have
also included B, C and at weighting.
4. Adjust response time (Res Time) and peak
hold properties as needed.
5. Exit the Settings screen by selecting “Exit.”
6. Scroll to the onscreen “RUN/STOP” icon and
hit enter. The RTA will begin.
7. Scroll to the RTA screen and press enter to
select an individual band to view the dB SPL
in real time for center frequencies of that
particular band. The rightmost bar is the ALL
frequency level. To the left of the screen you
will nd a boxes with signal properties listed.
The top value will be the dB SPL results for
the currently selected band, below which you
will nd the center frequency of the currently
selected band (if the all frequency bar is cho-
sen, this value will read ALL). The currently
selected weighting will be visible below this.
8. A60 dB range can be seen on the RTA screen
at any one time. The total range viewable is
30 dB to 130 dB. If you nd the RTA is clip-
ping constantly (as shown below), selecting
“Range” to the right of the screen will allow
users to scroll up (in 5 dB increments).
9. When monitoring signals as high as 70 dB
to 130 dB SPL, you can still view the lower
levels by pausing the RTA (select “RUN/
STOP”) and adjusting the “Range” to see
the lower levels.
10.Take a snapshot of the screen at any time
by hitting the snapshot button. These will be
saved to an inserted FAT-32 formatted SD
card.
1/6th Octave RTA
1/3th Octave RTA (Clipping Status)

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Procedure for measuring an electrical signal:
1. Enter the Settings menu and change the in-
put source to “Line” and measurement unit to
either “dBu”, “dBV” or “voltage,” as required.
2. You may also want to adjust the response time,
weighting, octave and peak hold properties.
3. Send a signal into the PAA3X’s XLR input
jack. The wiring should be as follows:
Pin 2 – Hot, Pin 3 – Cold, Pin 1 – Ground
4. Select the “RUN/STOP” icon to start the RTA.
5. You can read the level of any individual
frequency or all frequencies simultane-
ously. Scroll down until the RTA screen is
highlighted and hit enter. You can then scroll
through the numerous frequencies onscreen
to get a clearer picture of each frequency’s
signal properties. This information is found
on the top left-hand corner of the display.
6. Take a snapshot of the screen at any time
by hitting the snapshot button. These will be
saved to an inserted FAT-32 formatted micro
SD card.
EQ Setting
Also included within the PAA3X is an EQ setting
function. Selecting this option within the Settings
menu will allow you monitor the suggested
equalizer band settings – updated in real time.
With perfect equalizer settings, ideally the EQ
Setting function would display a at line with no
suggested frequency adjustments. This will allow
for great quality audio with little potential for feed-
back and other issues. The EQ setting function
shows a maximum of ±15dB of boost and cut.
EQ Setting Function
Reverb Time (RT60)
The RT60 function gives the decay time of any
signal. The decay time is the time that it takes
for a signal to diminish 60 dB below the original
sound. This can be done with entirely no ltering
(at weighting) or with ltering imposed (A, B or
C weighting). The RT60 calculations are made
with no frequency ltering active, meaning the
reverb time will be calculated for all frequencies,
20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Working out the average of many di󰀨erent RT60
readings from around a room allows users to get
an idea as to how much absorption or reection
of audio the room provides. Depending on your
needs, you may wish to have a high or low RT60
measurement. For example, for public speaking,
an RT60 measurement of less than 1 second is
preferable, as to have a clear, concise voice pro-
jected to the audience. With choirs or instrumental
music, an RT60 measurement of greater than 1.5
seconds may be appropriate.

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Measuring Reverb Time:
1. Select the RT60 function through the Func-
tion menu.
2. Select the “RUN/STOP” icon to allow the
RT60 function to begin. The system will then
calculate the level of background noise (see
image below).
5. Play pink noise through your audio system
(this can be done using the PAA3X’s signal
generator or using an audio test CD). Make
sure that if you’re sending the pink noise
from the PAA3X that the trigger is set to “In-
ternal”. If you’re getting the pink noise from
an external source, the trigger should be set
to “External.” The trigger can be adjusted by
selecting the option below “range” on the
right-hand side of the screen.
6. Move the master fader up to a point where the
audio level received by the PAA3X is greater
than 30 dB over the background noise. This
will trigger the RT60 function. Quickly mute
the system to get your RT60 reading as ac-
curate as possible.
7. After the measurement is taken, the RT60
measurement results will appear on screen.
Users are o󰀨ered information on minimum
level, maximum level and the decay time
(as displayed below).
8. Like mentioned in previous functions, take a
snapshot of the screen at any time by hitting
the snapshot button. These will be saved to
an inserted FAT-32 formatted micro SD card.
3. After the background noise is detected,
select the “RUN/STOP” icon once again. It
is important that you try to keep background
noise consistent after this point.
4. The PAA3X will wait for a signal greater than
30 dB over the background noise (see image
above). A little helpful hint: the louder the test
signal, the greater the accuracy of your RT60
calculation.

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Meter
The meter function can take calculations in dB
SPL (through the detachable microphone), dBu,
dBV or Volt (through the line inputs). The SPL
function provides users with the overall ‘loud-
ness’ of their input signal and can be accessed
by simply selecting ‘Mic In’ as the desired input
source. The dBu, dBV and Volt measurements
can be taken through the line inputs, where the
meter function will give visual representations of
their respective levels.
Taking line input measurements:
1. Enter the Settings menu through the Main
menu and set your input source to “Line.”
You can also select your desired measure-
ment unit from dBu, dBV and Volt.
2. You may select a response time, weighting,
or peak hold time. Push “OK” to close the
settings menu.
3. Connect a source signal into the PAA3X’s
line inputs.
4. Select the RUN/STOP icon to start the level
meter.
5. Reset the Maximum level by highlighting and
selecting the word “Max” on screen.
6. If the level meter clips, it may be necessary
to adjust the measurement range. This is
done by simply clicking the range values
on the level meter itself. The measurement
range will depend on the unit selected in the
settings.
Each unit type has three di󰀨erent ranges that
can be selected.
When operating under dBu, the range can
be adjusted between -85 to -20 dBu, -75 to
-5 dBu, -60 to 10 dBu and -45 to 25 dBu.
When dBV is selected as the unit, the range
is selectable between -87.2 to -22.2 dBV,
-77.2 to -7.2 dBV, -62.2 to 7.8 dBV and -47.2
to 22.8 dBV.
Under voltage, you can select 43.6u to
77.4mV, 0.14m to 435 mV, 0.78 to 2.45V or
4.36m to 13.7V.
Taking SPL measurements:
1. Enter the Settings menu within the Main
menu.
2. Select “Mic” as your input source. The unit
will automatically be set to dB SPL.
3. Also in the settings menu, users can choose
the response time, weighting and peak hold.
4. Return to the meter by clicking “Exit”.
5. A 60 dB range is visible on screen at any time.
Users can view 30 to 100 dB SPL, 45 to 115
dB SPL or 60 to 130 dB SPL. To change the
range, simply the range icon to the right of
the screen.
6. Reset the Maximum SPL level by simply
highlighting and selecting the word “Max” on
screen.

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Polarity
The polarity function is most useful in determin-
ing whether a speaker is correctly wired. A polar-
ity signal is typically required when checking the
phase of a speaker. Thankfully, one is provided
through the PAA3X’s signal generator.
6. Activate the polarity function by highlighting
and selecting the PAA3X’s Run/Stop icon.
7. A large “+” appearing on screen means the
signal is in phase and the wiring is correct.
8. If instead of a “+” you get a “-”, the speaker
is out of phase and should be corrected.
9. A big “?” or a screen switching between plus
and minus symbols means the sound level is
too low and not detectable by the PAA3X. So
turn it up! The signal generator’s level can
be increased through the signal generator
menu, but you can also opt to turn up the
volume of your speaker/system.
Attention: Make sure the sound pressure level
of the polarity signal from the system is higher
than the noise from the surrounding environ-
ment. The PAA3X will not be able to detect the
phase of the speaker accurately if the polarity
signal is not at a suitable level.
The above procedure is for checking the polar-
ity of speakers. The same method can be used
to check the wiring of cables themselves, you
simply need to select the Line In as your input
source. After doing so, connect one end of the
cable you wish to check to your signal generator
and the other end to the PAA3X’s input. Points
6 through 9 above should be identical from that
point on.
Checking the polarity of speakers:
1. Go to the Polarity function by accessing the
Function menu.
2. Go to the Settings menu and select Mic In as
your input source. Exit the Settings menu.
3. Connect the signal generator output to
your sound system’s inputs. Ideally, with
active speakers, you will connect the signal
generator directly to your speakers to avoid
the complication of nding miswired cables
elsewhere in your setup.
4. Start the polarity tone playing by turning the
signal generator on/o󰀨 icon. You could also
opt to play a polarity signal through your
speakers using some other means (compact
disc, external tone generator, etc). For more
information on the signal generator, consult
the Signal Generator section of this manual.
5. Stand approximately one meter (3 to 4 feet)
in front of the speaker that plays the polarity
signal.

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SCREEN CAPTURE
Regardless of the function, the PAA3X can
always save screen shots of the current screen
to recall at later dates. These are saved on an
external SD card. Users can also load or delete
their previously stored measurements.
Capture:
1. Insert an appropriately formatted SD card to
the PAA3X’s SD card slot. SD cards must be
formatted as FAT-32 le systems.
2. In any function, on any screen, simply push
the Capture button.
3. That’s all there is to it. The screen will be
instantly captured and a BMP le will be
saved to your SD card.
Recall:
1. Enter the Main menu by selecting the ap-
propriate icon to the left of the screen.
2. Select Screen Shot from the main menu (as
shown below). This option is only available
when an SD card is inserted. If no SD card
is present, the option will be grayed out.
SETTINGS
Every one of the PAA3X’s functions o󰀨ers its
own variable settings. To access the settings
menu, select the Menu icon that is found to the
left of the screen.
Once in the main menu, select the Settings op-
tion to access the Settings menu. The settings
menu o󰀨ers options for input source, units, re-
sponse time, peak hold, and weighting - among
other important features.
Input Source – This setting allows users to
switch between the built-in microphones (Mic)
and the XLR inputs (Line) as their input source.
Response Time – This feature allows users to
select the speed at which their calculations are
made and displayed on screen. The response
time can be selected between 35 ms (for explo-
sive sounds), 125 ms (fast), 250 ms (medium)
and 1 second (slow).
3. Select the “View” icon to view the previously
captured les. You can press the ↑/← and
↓/→ buttons to scroll through all captured
les.
4, Selecting the le name on screen allows you
to scroll through all saved les. Please note
that a list of captured les will not appear on
screen.

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Octave – The octave option allows users to
select the resolution of their RTA. There are two
options available: 1/3rd and 1/6th octave. In es-
sence, the 1/3rd option is a 31-band RTA while a
1/6th octave has much ner resolution – almost
twice the detail – at 61-bands.
Weighting – Any audio analyzer needs to be
designed so that it hears sound properties in
a manner that would be appropriate for the
measurements it is taking. For example, the
sensitivity of human hearing is restricted to the
frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The human
ear, however, is most sensitive to sounds in the
range of 500 Hz to 8 kHz. The ear becomes
progressively less sensitive to sound out of this
range. Microphones, however, are not restricted
by this limitation and therefore do not respond in
the same manner that our ear would.
Audio analysis devices such as the PAA3X pro-
vide various weightings for the measurements
taken to compensate for the increased and
decreased sensitivity. The weighting determines
the curve that the PAA3X will use to interpret the
input signals from the chosen input source. Flat,
A-, B- and C-weightings are available. Each of
these weightings is ideal for di󰀨erent applica-
tions, with A-weighting perhaps being the most
commonly used (and that which most closely
matches the human ear) and internationally
recognized standard for measurement.
Unit – This allows users to adjust between vari-
ous measurement units. This may include dB
SPL (when the microphone is selected as the
input source), dBu, dBV and Volt (when line is
selected as the input source).
Peak Hold – The peak hold function will cause
the highest signal peaks on the RTA to be held
for a short period of time, giving a better visual
representation of these high peaks. This is
represented by a small red line/dot at the top of
the frequency bar. This red mark will remain for
as long as the peak hold time is set, or until the
signal rises above the previous peak.
EQ Setting – Selecting this option will allow you
monitor the suggested equalizer band settings
– updated in real time. Please consult the EQ
Setting section on page 8 for more info.
Calibration – Entering this menu will allow users
to calibrate the precision microphone. See the
calibration section below for more information.
MICROPHONE CALIBRATION
As the PAA3X comes factory calibrated, you
should never actually need to calibrate your unit.
If measurement data or the operation of the unit
begins to seem abnormal, however, it may be
necessary to perform a calibration. Anyone can
calibrate the PAA3X and regain accurate sound
pressure level measurement. This is provided
they have a quality sound level calibrator with
1/2” diameter adapter that sends out a 1 kHz
tone. A B&K TYPE 4231 sound level calibrator
is suggested.
Procedure:
1. Enter the Main Menu > Setup menu.
2. Place the PAA3X’s microphone within a
sound level calibrator with a microphone
connector of 1/2” diameter.
3. Select the RUN/STOP icon on screen to start
the calibration process.
4. Scroll to the ‘dB’ level in the middle of the
screen and press enter to edit.
5. Adjust the level measured from the SPL cali-
brator by pressing the ↑/← and ↓/→ buttons
until the level is equal to that of the sound
level calibrator (typically 94 dB). Pressing the
↑/← button once will increase the value by
0.1dB; pressing the ↓/→ button each time
will decrease the value by 0.1 dB. This can
also be accomplished using the jog wheel
control.
6. Press enter and select the SAVE icon to
complete the calibration (the PAA3X will
restart in this case) or select the “CAL MIC”
icon to exit without saving.

PAA3X
14
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SIGNAL GENERATOR
The PAA3X’s signal generator can be accessed
at any time, for any function. There are four
built-in signals, each with their own adjustable
properties. All generated signals can have their
output level adjusted between -50 dBu and +4
dBu. All signals – except the sweep signal – can
also have their gate time adjusted, where users
can select a time up to 10 seconds for the signal
to run, at which time the signal will turn o󰀨.
Polarity: The polarity signal is commonly used for
checking the polarity of speakers. Check the Po-
larity section of this manual for more information.
Pink Noise: The pink noise signal is typically
used for adjustment of environmental acoustics.
The most common use would be in the setting of
equalizers. As pink noise encompasses most fre-
quencies audible to humans, playing a pink noise
signal in any given setting can give engineers a
sense of the acoustical properties of the room
and allows them to compensate through the EQ.
UTILITY
The Utility menu can be found within the PAA3X’s
main menu. Within are some basic settings for
the unit.
Sweep: The sweep signal consists of a sine
wave with an ever-changing frequency. The
frequencies can be user-dened, with 1/6, 1/3,
2/3 and 1 octave intervals selectable by the
user. Alternatively, users can choose ‘Select’
and adjust the sweep range manually. Once
users choose ‘Select’, the Sweep signal’s “Start”
and “Stop” elds will become active. Users can
select the start frequency (between 20Hz and 20
kHz) and stop frequency (between 20 Hz and
20 kHz). Users can opt to have a continuous
sweep tone, where the signal generator will run
through the entire audio spectrum selected, then
start again. Alternatively, users can opt for the
tone to repeat itself anywhere between 1 and 10
times before it turns o󰀨.
Sine: Used for a variety of purposes. A1 kHz sine
wave is perhaps the most commonly used sine
wave. However, users can adjust the PAA3X’s
sine wave to a number of frequencies between
20 Hz and 20 kHz.
Calendar: Users can adjust the date here.
Time: Change the time (in 24 hour time).
Display Brightness: Users can adjust the
brightness level through this function. Reducing
the brightness of the screen can help preserve
battery power, or increasing it can enhance vis-
ibility in bright areas.
Display Backlight: The backlight time option
allows users to adjust the time they wish the
PAA3X’s screen to remain on. After the selected
time has passed, the screen will go dark to pre-
serve the battery power. Adjusting the backlight
option to ‘o󰀨’ will disable this feature.
Battery Remain Power: Users can monitor the
current remaining battery life here.

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Battery Auto Power O󰀨: The auto power o󰀨
function will turn the PAA3X o󰀨 after a pre-
determined period of time if the user does not
use the PAA3X. When set to “OFF”, the PAA3X
will not automatically power o󰀨.
Firmware Update: The PAA3X’s rmware can
be updated by selecting this option. Check the
Firmware Update section for more information.
Initialize: Restore to factory default settings.
FIRMWARE UPDATE
The PAA3X allows for rmware updates which
will be periodically available through Phonic’s
website (www.phonic.com).
OPERATING TIPS
● If you feel a function is not working, rst make
sure you’ve selected the correct Input Source
in the Settings menu. Throwing the PAA3X
at the wall solves nothing.
● Capture your readings quickly using the
screen cap button. The right-most button
will immediately save a screen shot to any
FAT-32 formatted SD card you have inserted.
● If the signal clips, adjust the display range.
A higher display range will prevent the unit
from clipping when signals go higher than
the current display ceiling.
● It is not recommended that you continue us-
ing PAA3X for any measurements when the
battery is low. Always ensure you have the
charger on hand, just in case.
● Push and hold the power button for 3 seconds
to turn the unit on and o󰀨. In the unlikely event
that the PAA3X crashes, push and hold the
power button for 10 seconds to turn it o󰀨.
● Using the jog wheel is the fastest way to
control the PAA3X. Getting familiar with it
will save you a lot of time in the long run.
● If you will be reading measurements o󰀨 the
PAA3X over a long period of time, be sure to
turn the system’s sleep mode ‘o󰀨’, otherwise
the screen will go dark after a few minutes.
This is done through the Utility menu found
in the Main menu.
● When testing sound pressure, the MAX
(maximum sound pressure level) eld can
be reset by simply scrolling to it and hitting
enter when it’s highlighted.
● The PAA3X can only be charged through the
USB connector. This may be done using the
included adapter.
● When the PAA3X is charging, the power
LED on the side will ash. This LED will stop
ashing when the battery is fully charged.
To perform a rmware update:
1. Power on the PAA3X.
2. Place an SD card with the latest rmware le
in the SD card slot.
3. Enter the Main Menu and select Utility.
4. At the bottom of the page, nd the Firmware
update option and select “Update”. The
update will begin immediately.
5. The rmware update can take a few minutes
so please be patient.
6. Once the rmware update is complete, us-
ers will be prompted to turn the PAA3X o󰀨.
Please do so by holding the power button for
3 seconds.
7. Turn the unit back on.

PAA3X
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Inputs / Outputs Detachable Mic Condenser mic
XLR Jacks Balanced XLR input and output
Display 320 x 240 RGB LCD screen
Range Mic in / Line In 30 to 130 dB SPL / -85 to 25 dBu
Memory Micro SD Card BMP format (320 x 240 pixels)
Generator Sine, polarity, sweep, pink noise
RTA Frequency 20 Hz to 20 KHz, all frequencies
EQ Setting EQ Cut or Boost
Dynamic Range 30 to 130 dB; 60dB display range, eg. 70
to 130, 60 to 120, 50 to 110
dB-scale setting + / - 5dB steps on Y-Axis
Unit dB SPL, dBu, dBV, Volt
Octave 1/3, 1/6
Weight A, B, C, Flat
RT-60 Unit dB SPL, dBu, dBV, Volt
Trigger Internal / External
Weight A, B, C, Flat, 1 Octave
Meter 30 to 130 dB SPL / -85 to 25 dBu /
-87.2 to 22.8 dBV / 0.0436mV to 13.7V
Polarity Polarity checker (Negative / Positive)
Measurement Range dB SPL 30 to 130 dB SPL
dBu -50 to +40 dBu
dBV -52 to +38 dBV
Volts 5mV to 80V
Power Details Battery Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery,
3.7 V / 2200 mAh
External USB Adapter +5 VDC, 2A
Dimensions (HxWxD) 156 x 90 x 37.5 mm (6.14” x 3.54” x 1.5”)
Weight 325 g (0.7 lbs)
SPECIFICATIONS