Sound Level Meter suggestions please
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
Sound Level Meter suggestions please
Im looking for a Sound Level Meter preferable below $100, not looking for anything professional, just a way to compare.
The ones that im considering are
BAFX Products (TM) - Decibel Meter / Sound Level Reader - W/ Battery!
Extech Instruments SL10 Personal Sound Level Meter
Extech 407730 40-to-130-Decibel Digital Sound Level Meter
American Recorder Technologies Sound Level Meter
Mastech Digital sound level meter MS6700 30 dB - 130 dB
But im open for suggestions or recommendations,
Thanks,
The ones that im considering are
BAFX Products (TM) - Decibel Meter / Sound Level Reader - W/ Battery!
Extech Instruments SL10 Personal Sound Level Meter
Extech 407730 40-to-130-Decibel Digital Sound Level Meter
American Recorder Technologies Sound Level Meter
Mastech Digital sound level meter MS6700 30 dB - 130 dB
But im open for suggestions or recommendations,
Thanks,
Re: Sound Level Meter suggestions please
I'm in the same boat. Looking for a meter to get some objective measurements.
All of the meters in the above list are 30dB+ but my environment is already down to 35dB (at least, according to the app on my phone), so I'm after something that is sensitive down into the 20s.
Any suggestions?
All of the meters in the above list are 30dB+ but my environment is already down to 35dB (at least, according to the app on my phone), so I'm after something that is sensitive down into the 20s.
Any suggestions?
Re: Sound Level Meter suggestions please
Of those listed, the BAFX Advanced seems the best of the lot. High customer satisfaction, ability to import data to your PC, 30dB(A) min.
zdb: The jump from 30dB(A) to 20dB(A) involves a couple of grand or more...and realize any app using the tiny tiny phone mic isn't really telling you what the absolute sound level is as the accuracy and repeatability can't be very good...however, it can be useful for comparisons (this setup is quieter than that setup).
zdb: The jump from 30dB(A) to 20dB(A) involves a couple of grand or more...and realize any app using the tiny tiny phone mic isn't really telling you what the absolute sound level is as the accuracy and repeatability can't be very good...however, it can be useful for comparisons (this setup is quieter than that setup).
Re: Sound Level Meter suggestions please
Yikes!CA_Steve wrote:The jump from 30dB(A) to 20dB(A) involves a couple of grand or more...
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Yes, that's all I've been using it for. Control as many variables as possible, take a reading, change one thing, take another reading, rinse, repeat. What I noticed was that the readings started getting more and more 'erratic' once I went below 38dB — so I think I'm approaching some sort of hard limit with the mic in the phone.and realize any app using the tiny tiny phone mic isn't really telling you what the absolute sound level is as the accuracy and repeatability can't be very good...however, it can be useful for comparisons (this setup is quieter than that setup).
Since I can't justify a couple of grand for a more sensitive meter, I guess I'll have to rely on the one between my ears. ;^)
Thanks for the response, Steve — you short-circuited what would have otherwise been a fruitless search.
Re: Sound Level Meter suggestions please
Before throwing ur monies away, why not check out those smartphone apps, often free, may be just do the job.
Re: Sound Level Meter suggestions please
That's what I have been using. Unfortunately, smartphones use a microphone technology that can't detect sound pressure levels below ~30dB. The software is irrelevant — it's the hardware that is the limiting factor.bobb wrote:Before throwing ur monies away, why not check out those smartphone apps, often free, may be just do the job.
I've even hooked up an external mic to the phone, and the results (although slightly better) were still not good enough to give me confidence in readings in the 30-34dB range.
High quality/specialist microphones are needed to go below 30dB.
Re: Sound Level Meter suggestions please
I have semi frozen this project, i did buy a rode mic that seems with in acceptable to measure below 30db, but the problem is the ambient noise where i was planning to test, so until i can do a semi Anechoic chamber, no point in investing much more. But one the mics that i was considering, turn out to be too expensive but maybe someday if i do the chamber.... SoundFirst SF101a Precision Microphone.
SF101a typical noise is 13 dB SPL A-wtd, sensitivity is -36 dBV per Pascal, and maximum SPL is 138 dB for a 125 dB dynamic range.