Radioshack SPL Meter Accurate Enough To Set EQ By?

[SunnyOctopus]

Would a radioshack SPL meter be accurate enough to use to set the EQ on my computer setup? The listening spot is always the same seat in the same position.

If so, I was thinking about using the 18 band channel separate EQ in foobar. Is there something better I should be using?

Thanks!

 

[djreef]

I usually use the Radio Shack meter to get an approximation to flat (+ or - 5dB from an 80dB midpoint) then tune it out by ear. They're accurate enough for that, but I wouldn't trust it to ruler flatten the system, esp in the low frequencies.

DJ

 

[KEW]

Here ya go:

Calibration info for low frequencies is on the top of page 3.

http://www.audioxpress.com/magsdirx/ax/addenda/media/koya2811.pdf

 

[croseiv]

Here ya go:

Calibration info for low frequencies is on the top of page 3.

http://www.audioxpress.com/magsdirx/ax/addenda/media/koya2811.pdf

Good find there! Thanks for posting. I have both the analog and digital meters, but prefer the digital one due to ease of reading the display.

 

[3db]

Here ya go:

Calibration info for low frequencies is on the top of page 3.

http://www.audioxpress.com/magsdirx/ax/addenda/media/koya2811.pdf

I was wondering if someone was going to post the low frequency correction chart

 

[mtrycrafts]

Would a radioshack SPL meter be accurate enough to use to set the EQ on my computer setup? The listening spot is always the same seat in the same position.

If so, I was thinking about using the 18 band channel separate EQ in foobar. Is there something better I should be using?

Thanks!

No, the old meter is not accurate enough to use as an EQ unless you have a good correction chart.

Unfortunately, the link posted and the chart in there is not even close to what has been measured accurately with an Audio Control precision meter many years ago. For instance, 20Hz is down 7.5 dB, 25Hz down 5 dB, 31.5 Hz down 3 dB, 40 Hz down 2.5dB, 50Hz 63Hz 80Hz all down 1.5 Hz, 100 Hz is down 2 dB. There may be a better one on line that has all 31 bands. I found the link to the correction table that matches the one I have from the folks who did the original testing:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&983682086&openflup&1&4

 

[SunnyOctopus]

Alright, thanks for the info.


Should I get:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/ele/1497929500.html

or

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/1505272798.html

Or something else?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Alright, thanks for the info.


Should I get:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/ele/1497929500.html

or

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ele/1505272798.html

Or something else?

The analog can be set to a closer tolerance than the digital one that swings by whole digits. So, depending on where that meter is set to round up or down at, you could be off by almost 1 dB.
My RS analog meter has Radio Shack printed on it, not Realistic as the picture so that may be an older model. Interestingly, my digital has Realistic printed on the meter.

The digital is good for checking overall spl levels or peaks