SPL meter

[murl]

So do the cheap SPL meters do the job ok for calibrating your home system?

What about these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Boom-Stick-SPL1000-Digital-SPL-Stereo-Sound-Level-Meter_W0QQitemZ350154102287QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCar_Electronics_Parts_Accessories?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nady-DSM-1-Digital-SPL-Meter-Decibel-Sound-Pressure_W0QQitemZ280307217483QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item280307217483&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

Or rec. one, I don't really want to have alot of money tied up.

 

[jamie2112]

Get one of these:http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667 I use these all the time at work and they are great for 50 bucks.....

 

[no. 5]

I use the Radio Shack meter too, so that's what I would recommend.

But I don't know, if you're only going to use it once or twice for a simple level match, a cheaper one could be OK; knowing the actual SPL isn't as important as getting each channel to producing the same SPL.

 

[Midcow2]

I agree with $50 Radio Shack SPL

Like the others I use the Radio Shack digital SPL ( some people prefer analog ). It is extremely easy to use. One of the two you suggested was cheaper $20 and the other was about $50. I Personally wouuldn't take a chance in one that would probably work , but might not.

One thing about the Radio Shack. You make two settings :slow response ( which automatically averages the SPL level) and C-weighting which is specifically for music.

One you hear how well an spl meter makes you system sound you will feel it was the best $50 you spent.

Good Luck!

MidCow2

 

[Adam]

I checked out eBay, and there are some that look like my analog Radio Shack SPL meter (except that they have yellow highlights) and are selling for $13 ("buy now") + $10 shipping. I don't know anything about the brand, but it looks like the same hardware.

 

[mtrycrafts]

So do the cheap SPL meters do the job ok for calibrating your home system?
Or rec. one, I don't really want to have alot of money tied up.

What calibration do you mean? Level matching the channels only? For that, it should work fine. Frequency response? The meter would need a correction chart. The Radio Shack has one that has been passed around the Internet, one reason many here use it and recommend it.

 

[murl]

What calibration do you mean? Level matching the channels only? For that, it should work fine. Frequency response? The meter would need a correction chart. The Radio Shack has one that has been passed around the Internet, one reason many here use it and recommend it.

I was mainly just going to use it for level matching. What is there to gain checking the frequency response?

 

[Alex2507]

What is there to gain checking the frequency response?

What ?!?

 

[no. 5]

What is there to gain checking the frequency response?

For lower frequencies, knowing the in room frequency response allows you to identify, and then address the model issues that all rooms have.

 

[DonBattles]

A day late and a dollar short but +1 more for the Radio Shack unit

 

[murl]

A day late and a dollar short but +1 more for the Radio Shack unit

Right on time, haven't made the purchase yet.

 

[murl]

So will some kind person on this forum talk me through using this handy dandy little item? I am pretty sure I know how to do the level matching but not the frequency response and correct the problem.

 

[no. 5]

So will some kind person on this forum talk me through using this handy dandy little item? I am pretty sure I know how to do the level matching but not the frequency response and correct the problem.

To find the in room frequency response you need ether a CD of test tones (preferably one hertz spaced sine waves) with paper to record the SPL of each frequency, or you can use the SPL meter as a microphone for software like REW or Visual Analyzer.

Once the room response is known, fixing any issues comes down to adding a parametric EQ, or moving the sub or listening position around until acceptable response is attained.

 

[Mrdplobrat]

Yeah, I want one, but don't seem to find any in Panama. One store did have one, but it was some brand I don't remember, and they wanted well over 200 bucks for it... Insane!