Cheap, readily available sound meter for SPCR forum members?
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
Cheap, readily available sound meter for SPCR forum members?
Recent discussions have got me thinking - one of the biggest problems on these forums is defining "quiet". A HDD that one person considers quiet may be relatively loud to another. One person may get a very quiet sample, while one may get a louder one.
The obvious solution is to use a sound level meter, but good ones are expensive. Is there such a thing as an accurate and cheap meter for low-level monitoring, as required for SPCR? If an affordable and readily available model could be found, it would make life for dedicated silencers a lot easier.
The obvious solution is to use a sound level meter, but good ones are expensive. Is there such a thing as an accurate and cheap meter for low-level monitoring, as required for SPCR? If an affordable and readily available model could be found, it would make life for dedicated silencers a lot easier.
Hello
I have been thinking about this too.
I havent really been able to find much.
Conrad.de has these
None of the can measure below 30dB though.
I have been thinking about this too.
I havent really been able to find much.
Conrad.de has these
None of the can measure below 30dB though.
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
The problem is you want to measure down to 15 or 20 dba but no meter I've seen for sale to mear mortals is reliable for even measuring 30 dba. It looks like the Nady DSM-1 is the best value for the home user but even then you won't be able to measure anything under 35 dBA with any great certainty.
There is no such thing as a cheap SPL that measures SPCR levels reliably. I spent the last little while doing tons of Google searches and this is what I came up with.
Bruel and Kjaer makes sound level meters that I can't even find prices for easily. I'm sure there are plenty of Brands and models not present on this list.
There is no such thing as a cheap SPL that measures SPCR levels reliably. I spent the last little while doing tons of Google searches and this is what I came up with.
Code: Select all
Min dBA Price Brand/Model
32 100 Galaxy Audio Checkmate CM-140 SPL Meter
35 120 (Unknown brand) Sound Pressure Level Meter SPL-8810
30 130 Nady DSM-1 Digital SPL Meter
30 225 Galaxy CM-150 Check Mate SPL Meter
30 350 Galaxy Audio CM160 Checkmate SPL Meter w/Hard Drive
35 375 Goldline SPL120L Hand-Held SPL Meter
30 650 Quest Technologies Type 2 Sound Meter, basic
30 1450 Quest Technologies Type 1 Sound Meter, basic
I'm not sure how you think this will help? so if one person on the forums says something is loud and another says it is quiet, the SLM will settle the matter? given that the measurement circumstances would have to be exactly identical to be comparable (background noise, distance from source, same size room and treated/untreated walls) the lack of cheap, low-dB meters is not the only obstacle.
-
- Patron of SPCR
- Posts: 376
- Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:37 pm
- Location: Mississauga, ON
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
Lets say I have 10 PSUs and 30 fans laying around my apt. I don't trust my memory to remember which one was the quietest after comparing more than two or three so a SPL would give me a way to quantify the differences and put them on paper. That alone is worth it for me.jaganath wrote:I'm not sure how you think this will help? so if one person on the forums says something is loud and another says it is quiet, the SLM will settle the matter? given that the measurement circumstances would have to be exactly identical to be comparable (background noise, distance from source, same size room and treated/untreated walls) the lack of cheap, low-dB meters is not the only obstacle.
Of course the subjective result could override the SPL measurement but I can at least use the SPL to narrow down the list in a objective fashion before I worry about subjective comparisons.
It might also help for those "should I RMA this" threads. If you used a SPL meter in conjunction with a wattage meter and knowledge of the case and fans in use along with some temp data you could make a more informed decision about a system you can't hear.
Sure you might get someone that won't post enough detail but you might get these two scenarios
1: My Corsair makes a buzzing noise and my SPL says ambient is 15 dBA
2: My Corsair makes a buzzing noise and my SPL says ambient is 45 dBA
I'd tell person 1 they may just be too picky. I'd tell person 2 they clearly need to RMA the PSU.
The problem is with a cheap Radio Shack SPL is both people would say they'll say their ambient is 40 to 45 dBA even if it isn't. You don't get accurate, or even useful information from a SPL that doesn't go below 30 dBA when you are discussing SPCR level components.
And without an SPL you get people comparing items with made up dBA numbers that have no objective basis. They mean well but you just can't trust every joe that says x is about 17 dBA.
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
I've found some more meters to add to the price lists and a primer article on understanding their use, ratings, and such
http://www.prosoundweb.com/studyhall/la ... /slm.shtml
The standouts are
There may be better choices but if so they don't show up well on the google searches I chose.
For a casual user the Scosche SPL1000 or Nady DSM-1 might be enough for to settle an argument or satisfy curiosity.
For a more serious use the Extech 407738 claims to do under 30 dba for under $300.
And if I were trying to keep up with SPCR I'd be finding prices on all those stupid SPL manufacturers that don't sell to the retail market. God only knows who makes what at what price. But you can definitely get something that will read under 20 dba if you try hard enough and have plenty of cash.
http://www.prosoundweb.com/studyhall/la ... /slm.shtml
Code: Select all
Min dBA Price Brand/Model
30 100 Nady DSM-1 Digital SPL Meter
30 100 (Unknown brand) AR824 Multi-Range Sound Level Meter
32 100 Galaxy Audio Checkmate CM-140 SPL Meter
30 225 Galaxy CM-150 Check Mate SPL Meter
30 250 Extech 407750 Sound Level Meter with PC Interface
30 250 Extech 407740 3 Range Digital Sound Level Meter
26 275 Extech 407738 Sound Level Meter with Memory
30 350 Galaxy Audio CM160 Checkmate SPL Meter w/Hard Drive
35 375 Goldline SPL120L Hand-Held SPL Meter
30 650 Quest Technologies Type 2 Sound Meter, basic
30 1450 Quest Technologies Type 1 Sound Meter, basic
17 ???? Bruel and Kjaer 2250 Light
25 ???? Bruel and Kjaer 2238 Mediator
Code: Select all
Min dBA Price Brand/Model
30 100 Nady DSM-1 Digital SPL Meter
26 275 Extech 407738 Sound Level Meter with Memory
17 ???? Bruel and Kjaer 2250 Light
For a casual user the Scosche SPL1000 or Nady DSM-1 might be enough for to settle an argument or satisfy curiosity.
For a more serious use the Extech 407738 claims to do under 30 dba for under $300.
And if I were trying to keep up with SPCR I'd be finding prices on all those stupid SPL manufacturers that don't sell to the retail market. God only knows who makes what at what price. But you can definitely get something that will read under 20 dba if you try hard enough and have plenty of cash.
Last edited by dhanson865 on Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:47 pm, edited 6 times in total.
It's really down to the microphone used; Cheap sound level meters tend to use simple electret microphone capsules which, while adequate for normal levels, are too intrinsically noisy for low level measurements.But you can definitely get something that will read under 20 dba if you try hard enough and have plenty of cash
The problem most of us would have, is finding somewhere quiet enough to make meaningful measurements (Mike's lucky to have ambient levels below 25dB). For instance, here in my workshop on a quiet Sunday evening, no machines running, breathing gently, my B&K 2206 is reading ~30dBA (30dB is the lowest setting - the scale actually goes 10dB above and below this). If I inhale/exhale too fast or try to type, the meter hits the end stops (>40dB).
20dBA(spl) is extremely quiet.
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
Finding a quiet room can be done for most if they really want to test. If you had to you could use a large closet or a large bathroom that has no windows.
To put the levels you want to measure in perspective:
If your ambient is 30 dBA you shouldn't be able to hear your hard drive right?
To put the levels you want to measure in perspective:
Code: Select all
see more recent posts, cutting here to shrink space used by old tables
Last edited by dhanson865 on Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
wrong, with the pc running (with two 10,000 rpm raptors - on the floor beside me) the ambient level increases by about 2dB to ~32dBA, the whining of the Hdd/fans are plainly audble .your ambient is 30 dBA you shouldn't be able to hear your hard drive right?
As I've said before on this forum, ambient noise doesn't mask sound.
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
-
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:06 am
- Location: Klamath Falls, OR
"Coctail party effect": you can track, and understand, a conversation that's much lower than the ambient sound level at a large party. There's an evolutionary reason for this: folks with better discrimination of sound sources survived better when predators (2 or 4 legs) snuck up on them.MoJo wrote:Also, noise at different frequencies does not mask as well as noise at the same frequency. Thus, two fans will only be minimally louder, but a fan and a HDD at the same dB level but different frequencies will be much more noticeable.
You are a descendant of a long line of folks with above-average sound discrimination (in their generation). Every generation, the average discrimination got just a tad better - which is why you can hear a 20dBA disk drive in a 30dBA environment quite easily.
-
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:06 am
- Location: Klamath Falls, OR
To add to the list of SLMs with low A-wtd noise levels:
The Larson Davis models 812 and 820 have a noise base of 17.5dBA.
The Casella CEL 430.A1 has a noise level of 16.5dBA.
All are Type 1 SLMs and not cheap. All use 1/2" free-field microphones with 200V polarization. At the moment the dollar value is moving around a lot, so let's just say these units sell for very roughly $3300 for a basic model with no calibrator etc.
Free-field mikes are what you want; pressure microphones are what you don't want. Trust me!
The Larson Davis models 812 and 820 have a noise base of 17.5dBA.
The Casella CEL 430.A1 has a noise level of 16.5dBA.
All are Type 1 SLMs and not cheap. All use 1/2" free-field microphones with 200V polarization. At the moment the dollar value is moving around a lot, so let's just say these units sell for very roughly $3300 for a basic model with no calibrator etc.
Free-field mikes are what you want; pressure microphones are what you don't want. Trust me!
interesting as that's what anandtech use and they claim a 15dB(A) noise floor:Free-field mikes are what you want;
http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsu ... i=3021&p=7
-
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:06 am
- Location: Klamath Falls, OR
Googling "microtech gefell" reveals they make studio microphones and amplifiers, not sound level meters. Anandtech built its own-design ~1 meter cubed "quiet" enclosure. This stuff will not produce data you can present in court.jaganath wrote:interesting as that's what anandtech use and they claim a 15dB(A) noise floor:Free-field mikes are what you want;
http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsu ... i=3021&p=7
"Type 1" and "Type 2" are legal standards. Data taken with these SLMs can be presented in court.
What Anandtech has is not a sound level meter, as SLMs are generally defined. Not to say it isn't good stuff. Just doesn't meet any legal standard.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12285
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Good find (the linked article about SLMs) and good summary in that post.dhanson865 wrote:I've found some more meters to add to the price lists and a primer article on understanding their use, ratings, and such
http://www.prosoundweb.com/studyhall/la ... /slm.shtml
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12285
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Contact:
I doubt there's been much evolutionary gain in this regard the last hundred years or more, certainly none in the last 50. Human spaces are mostly devoid of non-human predators... and with the latter, it's usually less about physical sneakiness. Not if any of the extreme crime Am. TV shows are to be believed.Felger Carbon wrote:"Coctail party effect": you can track, and understand, a conversation that's much lower than the ambient sound level at a large party. There's an evolutionary reason for this: folks with better discrimination of sound sources survived better when predators (2 or 4 legs) snuck up on them.
You are a descendant of a long line of folks with above-average sound discrimination (in their generation). Every generation, the average discrimination got just a tad better - which is why you can hear a 20dBA disk drive in a 30dBA environment quite easily.
-
- Posts: 2049
- Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:06 am
- Location: Klamath Falls, OR
Mike, I'm talking about evolution over the past 100+ million years. Homo sap descended from a predecessor species, which in turn was descended from the previous predecessor species etc. The ability to detect approaching predators has been important, evolutionary speaking, for over a hundred million years. Honest.MikeC wrote:I doubt there's been much evolutionary gain in this regard the last hundred years or more, certainly none in the last 50. Human spaces are mostly devoid of non-human predators... and with the latter, it's usually less about physical sneakiness. Not if any of the extreme crime Am. TV shows are to be believed.
That's likely 7+ million generations. A 0.001% survival advantage in each generation, repeated 7 million times, works wonders for hearing acuity.
The last hundred years is nothing in evolutionary terms!
edit: My reason for choosing 100+ million years:
Our hearing acuity began evolving when three conditions were met: when our ancestor had legs, ears, and a need to avoid predators. We are mammals, evolved from the mammals that we know from the fossil record were contemporaneous with the dinosaurs.
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
I've updated the price list.
The SPL primer seems to be gone from the original site so here is an archive copy
http://web.archive.org/web/200603180612 ... /slm.shtml
The standouts are
There may be better choices but if so they don't show up well on the Google searches I chose and/or they are new as I haven't done the brute force searches since my first post on this subject.
For a casual user the Scosche SPL1000 or Nady DSM-1 might be enough for to settle an argument or satisfy curiosity.
For a more serious use the Extech 407738 claims to do under 30 dba for under $300.
And if I were trying to keep up with SPCR I'd be finding prices on all those stupid SPL manufacturers that don't sell to the retail market. God only knows who makes what at what price. But you can definitely get something that will read under 20 dba if you try hard enough and have plenty of cash.
Thanks to those in the thread that pointed me to Norsonic, Larson Davis, and Casella which I had no prior knowledge of.
The SPL primer seems to be gone from the original site so here is an archive copy
http://web.archive.org/web/200603180612 ... /slm.shtml
Code: Select all
Min dBA Price Brand/Model
35 25 SCOSCHE SPL1000
30 100 Nady DSM-1 Digital SPL Meter
32 125 Galaxy Audio Checkmate CM-140 SPL Meter
30 150 Protek SL1700 Digital Sound Level Meter
30 250 Galaxy CM-150 Check Mate SPL Meter
30 250 Extech SL130 LED Alert with Alarm
30 250 Extech 407750 Sound Level Meter with PC Interface
30 250 Extech 407740 3 Range Digital Sound Level Meter
26 260 Extech 407738 Sound Level Meter with Memory
30 350 Galaxy Audio CM160 Checkmate SPL Meter w/Hard Drive
30 400 Casella CEL-240
30 650 Quest Technologies Type 2 Sound Meter, basic
17 1300 Casella CEL-430 (A1 or A2)
30 1450 Quest Technologies Type 1 Sound Meter, basic
13 ???? Norsonic Nor118 Sound Level Meter
17 ???? Norsonic Nor131 Sound Level Meter
18 ???? Larson Davis 812
18 ???? Larson Davis 820
17 ???? Bruel and Kjaer 2250 Light
25 ???? Bruel and Kjaer 2238 Mediator
Code: Select all
Min dBA Price Brand/Model
35 25 SCOSCHE SPL1000
30 100 Nady DSM-1 Digital SPL Meter
26 260 Extech 407738 Sound Level Meter with Memory
17 1300 Casella CEL-430
17 ???? Bruel and Kjaer 2250 Light
13 ???? Norsonic Nor118 Sound Level Meter
For a casual user the Scosche SPL1000 or Nady DSM-1 might be enough for to settle an argument or satisfy curiosity.
For a more serious use the Extech 407738 claims to do under 30 dba for under $300.
And if I were trying to keep up with SPCR I'd be finding prices on all those stupid SPL manufacturers that don't sell to the retail market. God only knows who makes what at what price. But you can definitely get something that will read under 20 dba if you try hard enough and have plenty of cash.
Thanks to those in the thread that pointed me to Norsonic, Larson Davis, and Casella which I had no prior knowledge of.
Last edited by dhanson865 on Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:37 am, edited 7 times in total.
I just rate things on a personal 1-10 scale, sort of how MikeC does on the recommended page.
If you have 30 fans. just rate them. this sounds like an 8-, this sounds slightly better, a solid 8, this next one is basically inaudible, so a 9+. So if you get to like fan 7 or so, and cant remember if its better or worse than something, you can go back and compare to something you gave a ranking to, to get a rank for it. So say you listen to fan 10, but cant remember if its louder or quieter than fan 1, which you gave an 8-, compare it to fan 1. If its louder, give a lower score, or compare it to the next lowest scored fan. Etc etc.
I mean your ultimately going to have to do this process ANYHOW even with meassured SPL's since SPL doesnt show everything. SPL is fairly meaningless except for reference only to other items that were measured by the same person and gear under the same conditions. You cant compare them to anyone else's SPL readings since you'll never get all the ambient conditions the same.
If you have 30 fans. just rate them. this sounds like an 8-, this sounds slightly better, a solid 8, this next one is basically inaudible, so a 9+. So if you get to like fan 7 or so, and cant remember if its better or worse than something, you can go back and compare to something you gave a ranking to, to get a rank for it. So say you listen to fan 10, but cant remember if its louder or quieter than fan 1, which you gave an 8-, compare it to fan 1. If its louder, give a lower score, or compare it to the next lowest scored fan. Etc etc.
I mean your ultimately going to have to do this process ANYHOW even with meassured SPL's since SPL doesnt show everything. SPL is fairly meaningless except for reference only to other items that were measured by the same person and gear under the same conditions. You cant compare them to anyone else's SPL readings since you'll never get all the ambient conditions the same.
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
The SPL primer seems to be gone from the original site so here is an archive copy
http://web.archive.org/web/200603180612 ... /slm.shtml
http://web.archive.org/web/200603180612 ... /slm.shtml
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12285
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Contact:
Again, good work to keep this uptodate, dhanson865!
The Extech 407738 you mentioned seems decent, and I've seen it for as low as $250. For tech geeks, it's not a bad tool to have handy, you'll find all kinds of uses for it once you have one on hand. (Not to mention the people who'll want to borrow it for this that or the other...)
The Extech 407738 you mentioned seems decent, and I've seen it for as low as $250. For tech geeks, it's not a bad tool to have handy, you'll find all kinds of uses for it once you have one on hand. (Not to mention the people who'll want to borrow it for this that or the other...)
Is an accuracy of +-1.4dB considered "decent"? It's poor enough to provide wide margins of error when computing the difference between two sounds <5dB apart. (For example calculating the contribution from source X on top of the background noise.)MikeC wrote:The Extech 407738 you mentioned seems decent, ...
BTW, what's the accuracy of the equipment you use in the anechoic chamber?
Cheers
Olle
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
The accuracy of the Nady DS-1 is worse: + 1.5dB (under reference conditions)Olle P wrote:Is an accuracy of +-1.4dB considered "decent"? It's poor enough to provide wide margins of error when computing the difference between two sounds <5dB apart. (For example calculating the contribution from source X on top of the background noise.)MikeC wrote:The Extech 407738 you mentioned seems decent, ...
BTW, what's the accuracy of the equipment you use in the anechoic chamber?
Cheers
Olle
Same goes for the Galaxy CM-140 (1.5dB). Check out the graph at soundandvisionmag
Protek SL1700 says ±1.5dB as well.
I don't eve see an accuracy claim in the specs for the Quest Technologies units
I doubt you'll find better accuracy in any of the sub $1000 units
That graph on the review of the CM-140 makes me wonder if the ±1.5dB is not per overall measurement but on a frequency by frequency basis. As in if you measure the same 700hz noise 3 days in a row the reading wouldn't change but if you measured a 700hz noise and a 6000hz noise separately the accuracy at those frequencys would differ.
If so then I'd be happy to have the Extech 407738 even at ±1.4dB accuracy. Repeatable non varying inaccuracy can be mapped and corrected for manually.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12285
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Contact:
I think it is still good enough for non-critical noise measurements. MEasurements from multiple positions/distances can help reduce error. The lab gear -- the main source error would be users (ie, not setting the correct distance, ignoring or not hearing noises that might impact the readings, too many reflective things in the chamber, etc) -- and maybe the mic calibrator, which I've actually checked against several references as being better than 0.5 dB accurate. (See http://www.silentpcreview.com/New_Audio_Test_Gear_2008 ) The rest of the gear is probably at least 0.2 dB accurate.Olle P wrote:Is an accuracy of +-1.4dB considered "decent"? It's poor enough to provide wide margins of error when computing the difference between two sounds <5dB apart. (For example calculating the contribution from source X on top of the background noise.)MikeC wrote:The Extech 407738 you mentioned seems decent, ...
BTW, what's the accuracy of the equipment you use in the anechoic chamber?
Cheers
Olle
-
- Posts: 2198
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: TN, USA
I've updated this list to include newer PSUs measured in the anechoic chamber
I think this shows why SPCR users wouldn't benefit much from any meter that can't measure below 30 dBA. If your sound meter can't tell the difference between a 1600 RPM fan and a 800 RPM fan at 1 meter what good does it do you?
Code: Select all
SPL levels of recommended SPCR items measured from 1 meter
(for PSUs I'm capping the noise level at 300 watts DC)
11-18 dBA Nexus Value 430 (370 RPM at idle)
13-16 dBA Enermax Modu82+ 625 (490 RPM at idle)
15-15 dBA Seasonic M12D-850W
15-18 dBA Antec Signature 650 (720 RPM at idle)
22-22 dBA Corsair HX520W
21-26 dBA Corsair VX450W
17-20 dBA Samsung M40 MP0402H
19-21 dBA Western Digital Green Power WD7500AACS
19-21 dBA Seagate Momentus 5400.3 ST9160821AS
20-21 dBA Seagate Momentus 5400.2 ST9120821AS
20-23 dBA Samsung Spinpoint T HD400LJ
21-23 dBA Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000KS
21-26 dBA Samsung Spinpoint P80 SP0802N
21-26 dBA Western Digital Raptor WD740GD
20 dBA Nexus Real Silent Case Fan SP802512L-03
~20 dBA Noctua NF-S12-800
~20 dBA Scythe S-Flex SFF21D 800
21 dBA Nexus Real Silent Case Fan DF1209SL-3 1500
23 dBA Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 1200
23 dBA Nexus Real Silent Case Fan D12SL-12 1000
~23 dBA Scythe Kama Flow SA8025FDB12SL 1500
25 dBA Noctua NF-S12-1200
31 dBA Scythe S-Flex SFF21F 1600