SPL meters analog or digital?? which is best

faster100

I am now in the market for a spl meter,(radio shacks finest )
They have a analog $34.99 and a digital$ 50.00 i cant afford 100-$500 for a fancy one so with this in mind, what is better??? Let me know as i am going to RS and put one on the layaway plan, LOL

STUFFMD

For what it's worth Faster I bought the analog model and calibrated my RT series, I told a friend of mine about it , he gave me the big chested "you should have told me I have a digital and it's sooooooo much more accurate". So he came over with his digital and lo and behold, all my settings were right on the money.
Digi ain't always better...
Peace, Stuff MD

faster100

Hey Thanks, sounds good

TroyD

eff, the digital one. Analog is old school. For our purposes, plenty accurate.

BDT

HBombToo

agreed.

mantis

eff the digital one????

whatever........they both are nice to work with.I own both.

One isn't better then the other..just one displays lcd numbers and the other has a analog meter..........pick one.

faster100

well actually i would prefer the digital readout, BUT we will see what my wallet looks like and what i feel at the time of purchase, Thanks again

TroyD

My point is, not that there is anything wrong with the digital, but the analog will work just as well for less......

I'm just a sucker for old school stuff.....I had a young troop in the office this morning and he was looking at the office rig.....anyway, he asked me if I was into audio and I says 'kinda'. I gave him a brief rundown of the mancave rig etc......anyway, he starts going on about how I have to get surround and digital and that it's SO much better than the old stereo equip........Anyway, it just annoys me when folks automatically that new and digital ALWAYS means better.

BDT

nascarmann

Damn BDT....you didn't make him give you a hundred.....;)

faster100

Thats true, actually i would think the manual meter would last longer then a digital readout in all honesty. Its alot for looks sometimes when we buy stuff then functionality. Im still kinda young at 29 so i don't really know "old school" Unfortunatly. well we will see what i get and i let you guys know how it works out

Ron-P

Analog


Peace Out~:D

JediCowboy

Faster,

Forget the digital and go with the analog. An SPL is an SPL regardless of how it is measured. The digital version is no more accurate, and if I remember correctly from the few hours I had the Radio Shack digital version, I'd say it is less accurate.

The music you have may be recorded digitally, but sound waves themselves are analog and that's the only way you're ever going to hear it unless you've had some radical new surgery on your ears and brain.

From my limited use of the Digital version of the SPL meter, I think it only measured in whole dB increments, and it was rather difficult to notice ranges and trends in the SPLs as I moved around the room. Its *very* easy for your eyes to notice that the little red needle is holding steady in a range of 73-75 dB and peaks at 84 in a certain section of the room. With the digital version you need to rememember all the nubmers, what the ranges are, where the peaks are, and most importantly you can't see which way the SPLs are trending as you move about the room. Why do all that work when a quick glance can tell you the same information?

In addition, its probably *more* difficult to notice the subtle variations with the digital version since digital, by nature is going to give you a specific number. Analog lets you see, essentially, an infinite number of infinitely small variations, or at least down to how sensitive your eyes are

Save yourself the money and go with the analog. Old school is much better in this case.

faster100

OK i think i have been convinced, Great points on the analog meter. makes buying a new toy easy with you guys.

nascarmann

Buy DIGITAL......GEEEEEZZZ
Have you been in a cave......
OK.....not much info....buy digital.....
GEEEZZZ......the analog meter is really the best though...
She-at......get one and let us know?
Hell......rent both?
Be the man......
What should we get?

Dr. Spec

Jedi nailed it. Analog is easiest to watch and get an "average" as it "flutters" a bit, especially on bass tones.

There is a Rat Shack calibration curve for bass (this model reads a few dB low in the bass department) available at several places on the internet.

But, if you are using it to calibrate a sub, runs the mains/center/surround at 75 dB and the sub at 78 dB for a starting point. Make sure to use "C" Weighted Slow settings.

Doc

mantis

flutters is..........peaks and dips in your responce not the meter.

They are both fine....IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE YOU BUY!!

faster100

Ive kinda come to that conclusion, LOL Thanks everyone