The CE Mark - A Photo-Tour of Immunity Testing
Most people have seen the CE mark on electronic equipment, but few have had the opportunity to witness the tests that are required to conform to the CE specifications. This post takes the reader on a behind-the-scenes photo-tour of the CE tests of Benchmark's new AHB2 power amplifier.
The CE mark is a manufacturer's declaration that the product has passed a comprehensive set of tests to evaluate the ability of the product to operate in close proximity to other electronic products. This means that the product must be immune to interference caused by nearby products, and that it must not emit excessive interference that could cause problems to nearby products.
There are two parts to the CE tests - immunity and emissions.This photo-tour focuses on the immunity tests.
Photo 1 - Immunity to Radio Interference
Photo 1 shows the AHB2 being exposed to high levels of Radio Frequency (RF) interference.
The transmitting antenna (which looks like a giant egg beater) is positioned in front of the AHB2. The spherical object on top of the AHB2 is an RF field strength probe. During these tests, the radio interference is swept over a wide range of frequencies while the product is rotated to maximize exposure on each of four sides.
As a professional product, the AHB2 must continue to operate at full performance under these test conditions. In contrast, consumer products are subjected to lower RF levels and are permitted some loss in performance.
These tests are performed in a shielded room. The high-power radio signals used in these tests must not be allowed to escape the room where they could interfere with radio communications systems. RF absorption panels on the walls help minimize reflections of the RF energy to improve the uniformity of the interfering signal.
Photo 2 - Immunity to Magnetic Fields
Photo 2 shows the AHB2 being exposed to a magnetic field.
The coil induces a magnetic field at frequencies between 50 Hz and 15.75 kHz to test for magnetic immunity. The coil is held at a precise distance while scanning all surfaces of the device under test. The AHB2 has two layers of magnetic shielding, and easily passes this series of tests.
This is part of a special series of tests for rack-mounted professional products. Consumer products are subjected to lower magnetic field levels and are only tested at 50 or 60 Hz. This difference underscores the importance of selecting professional products for use in the studio.
Photo 3 - Immunity to Electrostatic Discharge
Photo 3 shows a technician zapping an AHB2 with a high-voltage discharge. All sides of the product must be able to withstand direct and indirect discharges, and the product must continue to function normally. This test is is designed to insure that your speakers do not make a noise if someone walks across the carpet and touches the power amplifier.
Consumer products are subjected to the same tests but are allowed non-permanent malfunctions. A pop or crackle from the speakers would be considered acceptable from a consumer power amplifier. The standards allow a complete shutdown or reboot of consumer-grade products as long as no permanent damage is sustained.
Photo 4 - Immunity to Power Line Surges
Photo 4 shows some of the equipment used to expose the product to power line surges, dips, and brownouts.These test standards minimize the chances that a product will fail due to power line surges.
Photo 5 - Immunity to Conducted Interference
Photo 5 shows some of the apparatus used to inject interfering signals onto the input and output cables of the AHB2. This test shows capacitive coupling of an interfering signal. Other tests use direct injection, while others use magnetic coupling. Together, these test are designed to cover all possible means of interference.
CE tests vary by product type, intended application, and intended environment. See The CE Mark - What Does it Mean, and Why Should I Care? for more background on the CE tests.
Also in Audio Application Notes
Interpolator Overload Distortion
Most digital playback devices include digital interpolators. These interpolators increase the sample rate of the incoming audio to improve the performance of the playback system. Interpolators are essential in oversampled sigma-delta D/A converters, and in sample rate converters. In general, interpolators have vastly improved the performance of audio D/A converters by eliminating the need for analog brick wall filters. Nevertheless, digital interpolators have brick wall digital filters that can produce unique distortion signatures when they are overloaded.
10% Distortion
An interpolator that performs wonderfully when tested with standard test tones, may overload severely when playing the inter-sample musical peaks that are captured on a typical CD. In our tests, we observed THD+N levels exceeding 10% while interpolator overloads were occurring. The highest levels were produced by devices that included ASRC sample rate converters.
Audiophile Snake Oil
The Audiophile Wild West
Audiophiles live in the wild west. $495 will buy an "audiophile fuse" to replace the $1 generic fuse that came in your audio amplifier. $10,000 will buy a set of "audiophile speaker cables" to replace the $20 wires you purchased at the local hardware store. We are told that these $10,000 cables can be improved if we add a set of $300 "cable elevators" to dampen vibrations. You didn't even know that you needed elevators! And let's not forget to budget at least $200 for each of the "isolation platforms" we will need under our electronic components. Furthermore, it seems that any so-called "audiophile power cord" that costs less than $100, does not belong in a high-end system. And, if cost is no object, there are premium versions of each that can be purchased by the most discerning customers. A top-of-the line power cord could run $5000. One magazine claims that "the majority of listeners were able to hear the difference between a $5 power cable and a $5,000 power cord". Can you hear the difference? If not, are you really an audiophile?
Making Sound with Plasma - Hill Plasmatronics Tweeter
At the 2023 AXPONA show in Chicago, I had the opportunity to see and hear the Hill Plasmatronics tweeter. I also had the great pleasure of meeting Dr. Alan Hill, the physicist who invented this unique device.
The plasma driver has no moving parts and no diaphragm. Sound is emitted directly from the thermal expansion and contraction of an electrically sustained plasma. The plasma is generated within a stream of helium gas. In the demonstration, there was a large helium tank on the floor with a sufficient supply for several hours of listening.
While a tank of helium, tubing, high voltage power supplies, and the smell of smoke may not be appropriate for every living room, this was absolutely the best thing I experienced at the show!
- John Siau