This piece of test gear consists of a high-impedance probe connected to a simple audio amplifier and speaker. Technicians inject a known signal at the input of a broken device and probe each stage sequentially to hear where the signal stops or distorts. It is a classic, highly effective tool for troubleshooting analog audio equipment and vintage radio receivers without needing an oscilloscope.
Grab the signal tracer and walk through the preamp stages to find out where we're losing the right channel.
Related terms
Stage
A distinct functional block within a larger electronic circuit, such as a single amplification step.
Amplifier
A circuit or standalone device that increases the power, voltage, or current of an electrical signal.
DUT
A device under test is the specific component, board, or system being evaluated by test equipment.