SPL

[bruin62]

I was thinking of buying a SPL meter on Amazon but everyone I looked at seem to have a lot of bad reviews? Can anyone recommend a good inexpensive one I can pickup?

 

[TankTop5]

I was thinking of buying a SPL meter on Amazon but everyone I looked at seem to have a lot of bad reviews? Can anyone recommend a good inexpensive one I can pickup?

What is your definition of inexpensive, that means different things to different people

 

[lovinthehd]

Cheapest would be an spl meter app on your phone. Another thought is to get a usb measurement mic and use REW's spl meter function.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

I was thinking of buying a SPL meter on Amazon but everyone I looked at seem to have a lot of bad reviews? Can anyone recommend a good inexpensive one I can pickup?

I use this SPL Meter. It works well for me.

https://www.amazon.com/RISEPRO-Decibel-Meter-Digital-Sound/dp/B01EZZ8B5Q/

It's a lot easier to reach for the SPL meter than to get out UMIK and REW for a simple SPL check.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Ime many “bad” reviews are from people who don’t know what they are doing. The apps are ok, but every phone mic has a different roll off so I don’t trust them totally. Many are free though...
Umik/rew is the best, but more expensive. The ol trusty radio shack meter is ok. Not sure about newer ones, as I use rew or my RS meter, but I’m sure for the twenty or thirty bucks, it will do what you need.

 

[Speedskater]

Note that there are differences between 'SPL' meters and 'cal mics'.
The old Radio Shack analog 'SPL' meters were accurate.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Note that there are differences between 'SPL' meters and 'cal mics'.
The old Radio Shack analog 'SPL' meters were accurate.

Mine is a digital version but in the old days, there were links on HTS to calculate the sensitivity roll off the RS meter. They were accurate, but below a certain point(bass esp) they were a little off. Nice that someone took the time!

 

[TechToys2]

Note that there are differences between 'SPL' meters and 'cal mics'.
The old Radio Shack analog 'SPL' meters were accurate.

Nice to know! Showing my age, but I have and use one of those old Radio Shack analog meters.

 

[TechToys2]

They were accurate, but below a certain point(bass esp) they were a little off. Nice that someone took the time!

How do you find the bass off? I've noted inconsistency between my SPL measurement and Audyssey.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

How do you find the bass off? I've noted inconsistency between my SPL measurement and Audyssey.

I can’t remember where it starts rolling off. But basically let’s say from 30hz on down, you have to add 5db for every 6hz. So at 24hz the meter would show 70db instead of 75. These are arbitrary numbers as I just don’t remember anymore but that’s the idea. If you google a little, or search on home theater shack something should pop up. Maybe I can find a link before I run out the door.

 

[TechToys2]

I can’t remember where it starts rolling off. But basically let’s say from 30hz on down, you have to add 5db for every 6hz. So at 24hz the meter would show 70db instead of 75. These are arbitrary numbers as I just don’t remember anymore but that’s the idea. If you google a little, or search on home theater shack something should pop up. Maybe I can find a link before I run out the door.

That's helpful to know, because I mentioned in another thread that after running Audyssey I checked the levels with an SPL meter and they all seemed right except the sub, which read several db lower than the 75db.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

That's helpful to know, because I mentioned in another thread that after running Audyssey I checked the levels with an SPL meter and they all seemed right except the sub, which read several db lower than the 75db.

I didn’t see that. We’re you using the RS meter?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

FWIW quick search for radio shack spl meter correction table found this. And about 4000 others lol.

SPL Meter Correction Tables

www.avsforum.com

Should be something on there. Good start anyway.

 

[TechToys2]

FWIW quick search for radio shack spl meter correction table found this. And about 4000 others lol.

SPL Meter Correction Tables

www.avsforum.com

Should be something on there. Good start anyway.

thanks. Found this one too

Interesting info on RS SPL Meter and correction values...

www.hometheatershack.com

 

[VMPS-TIII]

There are SPL meters rated for lower frequency use. That design tends to be more expensive than the RISEPRO which offers a frequency range from 31.5 to 4Khz.

 

[TechToys2]

I didn’t see that. We’re you using the RS meter?

Yes. It's HERE

 

[Tachead7075]

I would go with this professionally calibrated one personally...

Cross·Spectrum - Galaxy CM-140 Sound Level Meter

Purchase calibrated Galaxy CM-140 Sound Level Meter

www.cross-spectrum.com

 

[Speedskater]

Again:
SPL meters are designed to measure Sound Pressure Level (loudness).
'cal meters' are designed to measure frequency response.
these tasks are not always interchangeable.

 

[lovinthehd]

Again:
SPL meters are designed to measure Sound Pressure Level (loudness).
'cal meters' are designed to measure frequency response.
these tasks are not always interchangeable.

It depends on the software whether a measurement mic can be used for reading spl. Or are you saying the mic in the meter is more capable of spl tasking somehow, is it a more durable capsule mic or something?

 

[Speedskater]

'SPL' meters typically have large diameter mic elements. They also have 'A' & 'C' weighting and Slow/Fast response settings. And are stand alone calibrated measurement meters.
Cal mics typically have small diameter mic elements. The amplification and frequency response correction is done farther down the line.
I have not used cell-phone mics. But I see problems with polar patterns, with ability to exactly reposition the mic and to operate without people in the room.