This paper discusses methods to evaluate the dynamic properties of sound absorbing materials (fibers, foams, etc.) based on impedance tube measurements, and the use of indirect methods to retrieve the main macroscopic material parameters from the dynamic properties. For the methods to be successful, the measured dynamic properties need to follow accurately an equivalent fluid behavior and show little noise, particularly at low frequencies. To improve the quality of these measurements, a modification is proposed to an existing three-microphone transfer matrix approach. The modified approach can also be applied to deduce with precision the transmission loss of homogeneous and non-homogeneous symmetrical or non-symmetrical samples. A comparison of the methods and the obtained macroscopic properties (porosity, tortuosity, static viscous and thermal permeabilities, and characteristic lengths) is discussed.