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Portable Countertop GoldXpert XRF Analyzer
The GoldXpert is a stylish countertop analyzer fit for the consumer showroom environment. Designed to be compact and lightweight, weighing only 22 lbs (10kg), the GoldXpert can be transported easily to wherever testing is needed. The GoldXpert gives accurate chemistry and karat results within seconds.
Nondestructive Precious Metals Assay and Karat ID
XRF is a widely used, proven, and accepted method of chemistry analysis and determination of purity and fineness of precious metals. XRF analysis is a multielemental testing alternative that is quicker and less expensive than fire assay and chemical tests. XRF provides on-the-spot analysis of your silver, platinum, and PGM metals and impurities, making it an easy way to boost customer confidence and ensure dealer reliability.
Given the current high value of gold, quantifying its fineness and purity is more critical than ever. Whether you buy gold, sell or produce jewelry, fabricate metal, or recycle scrap metal, you need a fast, highly accurate method to determine karatage (gold content) for quality control and pricing.
The Innov-X GoldXpert XRF analyzer is an easy-to‑use, cost-effective method to obtain alloy chemistry and karat classification with one nondestructive and nonintrusive test. Additionally, an exclusive GoldXpert software feature helps identify gold-plated objects and sends an alert to the screen.
- The GoldXpert is designed to be compact, taking up minimal countertop space.
- An attractive design suitable for the showroom floor.
- An easy-to-use analyzer providing karat and compositional analysis results with one push of a button.
- Accurate chemistry and karat results within seconds.
- Innovative feature to help identify gold-plated objects
- Quickly and easily create result certificates (with optional PC software).
- Testing chamber window and interior enabling continuous sample viewing for utmost customer security.
- Optional battery for on-the-road testing when you take the GoldXpert along with you during visits to customers and vendors.
- The GoldXpert can be networked for easy access to testing results as they are being generated.
- The analyzer is a safe and secure closed-beam system that requires minimal training (varies by country).
With the GoldXpert XRF Analyzer:
- Price cash-for-gold pieces quickly and accurately
- Identify and characterize a wide range of alloys including silver, platinum, and others
- Identify poison elements in samples
- Manage quality control of refining and melting operations
- Be alert to possible gold plating
The GoldXpert Countertop XRF
The Compact Professional Precious Metals Testing Solution
The GoldXpert offers the best of both worlds. A handsome countertop analyzer fit for the consumer showroom environment, it can also be networked for high productivity QA/QC jobs. The large chamber door opens quickly with a push of the large front trigger. The GoldXpert can also function as a portable analyzer when powered by a rechargeable Liion battery pack. Compact and lightweight, and weighing in at only 22 lb (10 kg), the GoldXpert can be transported easily to any location where testing is needed.
- Operates completely independent of a PC
- Leaded-glass viewing window for easy viewing of a sample in the chamber
- Integrated camera indicating sample analysis points
- Safe, closed-beam XRF system
- Small spot collimation for analysis; ability to switch between 3 mm and 10 mm diameter spots with a simple tap on the touch screen
- 4 W X-ray tube, 200 µA current (max), plus optimized beam settings for accurate analysis
- Small desktop footprint:
267 mm x 310 mm x 340 mm
(10.5 in. x 12.2 in. x 13.4 in.)
(with door closed)
- LED-lit sample chamber:
125 mm x 210 mm x 180 mm
(4.9 in. x 8.2 in. x 7.0 in.) - Analysis indicator light with 360° visibility
- Portable operation with optional battery for mobile off-site use
- USB interface port for high-speed data export, printing, external keyboard and remote control
- Responsive, bright, color touch screen display
- Silicon PIN Detector system standard. Silicon Drift
Detector system available for optimized precision on trace elements.
The GoldXpert comes equipped with an integrated CMOS camera, which records sample images to memory along with analysis results for report generation.
The X-ray beam collimation is utilized for measurement of small components and samples. A simple tap on the touch screen in camera view activates the 3 mm diameter collimation, and an on-screen indicator shows the operator exactly where the analysis spot is focused. Collimation can be easily reverted to a 10 mm diameter for standard bulk analysis.
Exclusive Plating Alert Feature
The GoldXpert has an exclusive feature that detects possible gold plating or coating when screening gold pieces. The GoldXpert analyzes for this possibility concurrently with composition of the piece. This feature allows the GoldXpert to alert the user if it determines that there is a possibility of gold coating or plating.
Customized Reporting
Data can be exported easily to spreadsheet format, and the memory can be accessed remotely when the GoldXpert is networked via its Windows CE operating system. Customized result and reporting certificates, including analytical results, an image of the tested sample, the company logo, and more, can be generated via the optional PC Software with the click of a button.
The GoldXpert XRF analyzer is ideal for pawn shops, cash-for-gold operations, the jewelry industry, museums, archaeological sites, coin collectors, scrap recycling, and more.
Features and Benefits
- Powerful 4 W X-ray tube provides reliable and accurate analytical performance.
- Speed: Delivers fast results within seconds.
- Portability: Can be powered by a compact battery for on-the-road analysis.
- Easy and accurate measurement automatically adjusts for the shape and size of the sample.
- Automatic karat determination.
- Large data storage capacity for test archiving.
- Easy data export and reporting for immediate certification generation.
- Integrated camera and small spot collimation for focused analysis and sample image archiving
- Completely nondestructive testing method.
- Innovative feature to help identify gold-plated objects
Typical Applications
- On-the-spot gold karat classification, 0-24 kt.
- Identification of impurities.
- Accurate compositional analysis of platinum, silver, and other precious alloys.
- Verification of gold content in scrap metal.
- Determination of gold and silver content in coinage.
- Identifies and analyzes unknown metals for pricing, or even lead screening.
- Gold plating identification
Sample Holder
The GoldXpert is equipped with an articulating sample holder arm, for securing and oriented samples for analysis. The Sample Holder is ideal for small component and mixed-metal jewelry testing.
The GoldXpert is available in two configurations: the standard GoldXpert and the high-performance GoldXpert SDD. The GoldXpert SDD is equipped with an advanced Silicon Drift Detector, enabling better precision and sensitivity for the most critical of applications.
The GoldXpert SDD offers a two-fold improvement in precision and sensitivity over the GoldXpert. For example, for a 20-second long test on an 18 kt gold standard, the GoldXpert will yield an Au precision of ±0.125%, while the GoldXpert SDD will yield an Au precision of ±0.067%. Longer testing times provide better precision. Shorter testing times can be utilized for rough, approximate analysis.
The GoldXpert SDD is recommended for refiners who need the utmost in analytical precision and fast reading times. The standard GoldXpert is suggested for general karating and trading applications.
GoldXpert Accuracy for Au and Ni in Certified Gold Alloy Standards
GoldXpert accuracy for Au in certified gold alloy standards
GoldXpert accuracy for Ni in certified gold alloy standards
Repeatability Plot
Twenty repeat GoldXpert readings on an 18 kt certified gold alloy standard
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Dictaphones are brilliantly useful – whether you're a journalist recording an interview, the person tasked with taking minutes of a meeting or an actor learning a tricky dialect.
Many people use their smartphones now. The iPhone's Voice Memos app, for instance, is very good and is about to get a design and feature upgrade this autumn.
Read more
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Or you can match the iPhone with a broadcast grade microphone from Sennheiser, the ClipMic Digital, which plugs straight into the phone and is perfect for interviews.
![Olympus dictaphone manual Olympus dictaphone manual](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125638724/528370249.png)
But for many situations, nothing beats a physical unit with buttons you can click, and a time stamp to show that you really are recording.
Some recorders have two microphones, and many have settings to vary recording quality, with higher resolution usually at the expense of audio storage capacity.
Finally, the very worst part of any recording is the transcription task that follows it. A brilliant new service called Trint will turn your audio into interactive text in minutes for low fees.
You still need to tidy up the text once it has transcribed it for you, but it does a lot of the heavy lifting.
Browse through our top ten dictaphones below.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Sony SX2000 Digital Voice Recorder 16GB: £200, Amazon
Sony makes brilliant, solid-state voice recorders that are hard wearing, reliable and feature packed. This model has twin microphones which can be adjusted into three different configurations as the situation requires.
There's also a microphone cover for windy environments. Recording quality is strong, up to high resolutions that approach broadcast levels.
Recharging is simple thanks to a USB connector which slides out of the bottom – you can use this to transfer recordings easily. You can also control it remotely from a smartphone app if you need to start and stop recording discreetly.
Philips VoiceTracer DVT1150 4GB: £29.99, Amazon
This is a simple, relatively basic and highly affordable recorder. It works best for those “note to self” moments, rather than for a student recording a lecture from the back of the hall.
There's a useful index key which lets you set a bookmark while you're recording – this is handy for noting those moments when something interesting is said.
Despite being low-priced, it includes voice activation for recordings, which will pause after three seconds of silence and resume when you start speaking again.
The highest quality recording setting still has 24 hours capacity and is straightforward to export recordings – so in most situations it's worth using this HQ format.
Olympus VN-741PC 4GB: £38.39, Dictaphones.co.uk
Another relatively basic machine, and one that's designed for beginners thanks to a Simple Mode, which uses a larger font and essential information only – though the more advanced mode is also available.
Like the Sony above, it has a retractable USB connector making it easy to transfer files to Mac or PC. It automatically adjusts the recording level according to the loudness or of the person speaking.
It also comes with Dragon Naturally Speaking software to turn voice into text (though I find Trint to be even more accurate).
Nagra Pico 4GB: £226.80, Richmond Film Services
Nagra is exceptional quality, revered by broadcast professionals, and this model is designed for radio journalists (though they will probably add a separate microphone).
The operating system is really not as intuitive as others here, though it's still usable. But you'd choose Nagra because the recorder is brilliantly reliable – it performs as it should every time.
The recording quality is excellent whether you're in a large room or up close to the speaker. It has two high-quality microphones and it's variable-speed playback helps with transcription.
Sony TX650 16B: £89.99, Argos
This recorder is designed for meetings and is a neatly designed, well crafted gizmo. It has a clip to attach to your top pocket, or your notepad, perhaps, and is lightweight and easy to use.
The mono microphone is effective and though there's no possibility to expand the memory, the built in 16GB is enough. A micro USB connector and supplied USB cable are used for charging.
It's small and light too, 10.2 x 2 cm (4 x 0.8 inches). Like the pricier Sony here, there is a crucial hold button which prevents accidental operation like, oh dear, inadvertently erasing your recordings.
Philips VoiceTracer DVT6010 8GB: £98.34, Amazon
Designed to be good for distance recording, this recorder is ideal for lectures, for instance. It has multiple microphones and software to reduce noise such as rustling papers, so the speaker's voice is clearer.
A built-in motion sensor means it knows whether it's on a desk or held in the hand and adjusts which microphone it uses accordingly. And there's a very clever pre-record function.
The VoiceTracer records without saving for five seconds before you press the record key, so if you suddenly realise something great is being said, you press the button and those five seconds are saved as the beginning of the recording.
It's also available in a 4GB version, but there is little price difference between the two. The 8GB version can record for up to 2280 hours, which is around three months!
Sony ICD-B140 4GB: £29.99, Argos
Unlike some models here, there's only a mono microphone on this recorder, making it great for note-taking but not as strong for meetings, for instance.
The maximum recording time is huge, but recordings are so much better at the higher-quality settings that you're unlikely to use anything else.
Although the functions are basic it has all the essentials, including a hold switch to protect recordings against accidental erasure.
Olympus DM-720 4GB: £127.99, Onedirect
Three microphones, angled in different directions, make for strong stereo sound capture. You can control it even without looking at it, thanks to voice guidance which reads out the menu – handy for those with vision issues.
This recorder has clever playback features, too, like the facility to only play back voices, not the bits when nobody's speaking.
You can also use scene selections to optimise recording for a conference, meeting or dictation as needed. A retractable USB connector slides out of the base when you need it.
Livescribe Echo 2GB: £161.99, Amazon
The Livescribe is a different way of doing things. The microphone is in the pen and as you record, it ties each moment to your writing.
This means that afterwards you tap the pen on the word that you just can't make out in your writing and it'll replay exactly that moment of sound.
This is brilliant for navigating extensive notes. You can save the notes and audio in the cloud. Note that for it to work you need to use special Livescribe paper with its tiny microdots – a 50 page notebook is supplied.
Olympus LS-P1 4GB: £99.99, Argos
The LS-P1 records at very high quality, in stereo. Big buttons make it very easy to operate, although the erase button is a little too prominent for my liking (don't worry, there are warnings before you wipe anything).
Other features include voice-activation, a slide-out USB connector and neat metal styling. Though it has a USB, this is not for recharging as it uses a single AAA battery which should last up to 39 hours.
The Verdict: Best dictaphones
In terms of ease of operation, versatility and storage capacity, the Sony SX2000 is hard to beat. But for simple recording of meetings, its mid-price sibling, the Sony TX650, is potent enough.
If your recordings need to be broadcast quality, the Nagra Pico is best, though not quite as easy to use as the rest.
IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.