SPL Meter

Igo
Igo Posts: 411
edited November 2008 in Electronics
I want a cheap but reasonably accurate SPL Meter. Wh's might you guys suggest.
For the simplest tasks, would the $50 Radio Shack meter work well?
...Link to my System Showcase...
"ES - Kind'a simple but I like it"

Sony ES STR-DA4300ES 7.1
Sony ES SACD SCD-C2000ES
Sony 400 Disc CD CDP-CX455
Infinity BU-2 Sub-Woofer
Polk Audio RT800i Towers
Polk Audio CS400i Center
Polk Audio FXiA6 Surrounds
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
DH-Labs T-14 Speaker Cables
Panamax Max 500 DBS Line Conditioner
Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50'-Plasma
Play Station III - BluRay
Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
Post edited by Igo on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2008
    Igo wrote: »
    I want a cheap but reasonably accurate SPL Meter. Wh's might you guys suggest.
    For the simplest tasks, would the $50 Radio Shack meter work well?

    Yep. I like the digital. It is real easy to read, holds peaks, and has a nice large display.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2008
    +1 above. Works great for me as well.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,806
    edited November 2008
    I also use the digital RS meter, and it works well.

    Some prefer an analog meter, the old RS analog is available here for much less:

    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92282
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,437
    edited November 2008
    The RS meters are fairly usable but like most things we feel stock is just not good enough. Frequency rang for the C-weighted setting is 32 - 10KHz. I found a DIY for modifying the meters to expand the range and improve performance.

    http://mysite.verizon.net/tammie_eric/audio/audio.html
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2008
    I prefer the analog version as they are cheap and easier to read visually IMO. (If I know I want the needle at the 12:00 position and I am over or under that, it's very easy to see at a glance)
    Jake
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,437
    edited November 2008
    There is a mod for those too.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited November 2008
    skrol wrote: »
    The RS meters are fairly usable but like most things we feel stock is just not good enough. Frequency rang for the C-weighted setting is 32 - 10KHz. I found a DIY for modifying the meters to expand the range and improve performance.

    http://mysite.verizon.net/tammie_eric/audio/audio.html

    Great mod for checking equalization using 1/6 octave test tones, since you won't need the meter corrections. However, it pretty much makes the meter useless for doing tests that involve noise tones (i.e. level matching of the channels), since it alters the C-weighting curve at the low end. Better to just apply the corrections yourself or use a meter correction file when using it as a mic for room equalization using a PC.
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited November 2008
    +1 with the analog version. Without a doubt any version is needed to tweak your setup, my take is invest in one and hold on to it, it will prove useful time and time again.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited November 2008
    I have the old analog meter from RS, it has to be 25 years old and still kicking.
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  • Igo
    Igo Posts: 411
    edited November 2008
    OK everybody. The local Radio Shack had one in stock and I have Thursday off so here we go.
    I appreciate it ya'll!
    ...Link to my System Showcase...
    "ES - Kind'a simple but I like it"

    Sony ES STR-DA4300ES 7.1
    Sony ES SACD SCD-C2000ES
    Sony 400 Disc CD CDP-CX455
    Infinity BU-2 Sub-Woofer
    Polk Audio RT800i Towers
    Polk Audio CS400i Center
    Polk Audio FXiA6 Surrounds
    Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
    DH-Labs T-14 Speaker Cables
    Panamax Max 500 DBS Line Conditioner
    Panasonic TH-50PZ85U 50'-Plasma
    Play Station III - BluRay
    Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
    Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard
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  • awe-d-o-file
    awe-d-o-file Posts: 146
    edited November 2008
    get the Rives tone disc, there is a set of tones calibrated to the not so accurate $50 Shack meter that makes it much more accurate.

    Here is what they say: In addition to the flat 20 Hz to 20 kHz tracks there is an additional set of tracks that are also 1/3 octaves from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The only difference in this series of tracks is that it is not flat. It is precisely calibrated to compensate for the non-linearity (particularly in the lower octaves) of the Radio Shack SPL meter (sound meter). We have found this meter to be very reproducible, but not very accurate. It is also very inexpensive and easy to obtain. For this reason we made these tracks to compensate for this device.

    http://www.rivesaudio.com/software/TestCD.html


    ET

    System: MF Trivista SACD > Placette passive> CJ passive horizontal bi-amp> MF 2500A(LF) MF2100(HF) > 1.2TL's

    Other: Speltz silver Eichmann IC's & speaker wire, Econotweaks Detail Magnifiers, PS Audio P-300(source), R. Gray 600, Al Sekala's AC R/C filters, R. Gray HT PC's, Oyaide R-1's,WPC-Z , M-1, Herbie's & DIY Isolation
    Room: Qty 7 - 4' tall 18" diam. bass traps, Qty 4 - 4' X 2' X 4" panels. All DIY - man my wife is tolerant!
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