SPL meter

[Unregistered]

What exactly is it and what exactly does it do?

Is it something required t use or is it like Monster Cables, all hype?

I almost no idea what it is used for and would love to hear from people who have used one and can clarify how to use one. thanks

 

[TheAudioCARtist]

it just measures Sound Pressure Level..

i dont see it as anything NEEDED for home stuff,but in the car..they use them all the time!
but be careful of claims of 170+ db..again,i (and i am sure many people who's jaw just dropped..) are aware there are different ways they measure db,(weighting..a..b..etc..) and there are ways to 'excite' certain mics with particular freq's,but a spectrum analyzer ,i think,is more of what someone wants/needs for home stuff..(well for people who care about the quality of reproduction,in,or out of the car)
anyway,to the point,
these things use a microphone to figure out what kind of sound pressure something is 'making' in a particular environment..
in our litigious world,people that work with jackhammers may sue someone if the spl is above some OSHA standard..
they use such a meter to determine how loud something is..measured in 'decibels..db' (Db?? i never cared! db is Db is dB..)

 

[TheAudioCARtist]

oh yeah, the jaws..

as a reference,i am pretty sure standing behind a jet taking off (less than 50'),i don't think you are experiencing 170 db?!?!
what i am saying is,these kinds of numbers are extreamly unrealistic..in a CAR!?!?
please correct me if you KNOW otherwise..
or even if i am right..as all of us,we hear things, and go with them,i like to have things backed up by people that KNOW..
i am not EXACTLY sure of the jet thing,and that is on the order of MILLIONS of WATTS,if not BILLIONS..

 

[Unregistered]

A jet engine is around 130 dB which is twice as loud as 120dB (the threshold of pain). If you were to listen to 130dB for a short period of time you will definitely experience hearing loss. 170dB would cause instant death!

 

[Unregistered]

To answer the original poster:

An SPL meter is not hype. It simply measures sound pressure level and is a very valuable tool for properly calibrating your home theatre equipment.

Here is my response to a question on how to use one: http://www.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5024