Sound level meter

Leolo · 16th December 2009, 01:02 AM

Good evening, gentle folk,

I have in mind a few projects that would require a sound power level meter: Sound proofing a room full of computers, building a power amp and speakers, writing a PC white/pink/sine generator and spectrum analyser.

I don't need a high-end expensive meter. But it would need to include calibration data. The Radio Shack 33-4050 would be ideal... but RS is no more in Canada. And the replacement (La Source) only has a digital meter.

Question : should I insist on getting an analog meter? Or is a digital meter just as good/better? I find a digital VOM to be a tad annoying; waiting that second or so for the display to update.

SteveW · 26th December 2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leolo

Good evening, gentle folk,

I have in mind a few projects that would require a sound power level meter: Sound proofing a room full of computers, building a power amp and speakers, writing a PC white/pink/sine generator and spectrum analyser.

I don't need a high-end expensive meter. But it would need to include calibration data. The Radio Shack 33-4050 would be ideal... but RS is no more in Canada. And the replacement (La Source) only has a digital meter.

Question : should I insist on getting an analog meter? Or is a digital meter just as good/better? I find a digital VOM to be a tad annoying; waiting that second or so for the display to update.

I don't have any experience with digital SPL measuring equipment - but, for the reasons you cited would be skeptical until seeing one work.

Sometimes analog is best. For general purpose SPL measurements I use a Simpson model 885 which is analog with a single meter and in the same class as the Radio Shack 33-4050. For more specific measurements, I use a Samson 31 band graphic RTA.

Can't you go online and order from Radio Shack?

DreadPirate · 26th December 2009, 07:10 PM

I have that RS meter and it is ideal. I would insist on a needle movement. Why not order it? The meter can be calibrated, but does not come with a calibration certificate, you would have to send it out.

Conrad Hoffman · 29th December 2009, 06:26 PM

I use a hand held Quest at work- entirely digital. The display is great and includes a 1/3 octave spectrum analysis. The problem is, they're darned expensive. Still, based on that, a well done digital display should be fine. I have an analog RS meter at home and the digital is every bit as readable, if not more so.

CH

Leolo · 6th January 2010, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveW

Can't you go online and order from Radio Shack?

As far as I can make out, they won't ship to Canada.

16th December 2009, 01:02 AM	#1
Leolo diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quebec	Sound level meter Good evening, gentle folk, I have in mind a few projects that would require a sound power level meter: Sound proofing a room full of computers, building a power amp and speakers, writing a PC white/pink/sine generator and spectrum analyser. I don't need a high-end expensive meter. But it would need to include calibration data. The Radio Shack 33-4050 would be ideal... but RS is no more in Canada. And the replacement (La Source) only has a digital meter. Question : should I insist on getting an analog meter? Or is a digital meter just as good/better? I find a digital VOM to be a tad annoying; waiting that second or so for the display to update.

29th December 2009, 06:26 PM	#4
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	I use a hand held Quest at work- entirely digital. The display is great and includes a 1/3 octave spectrum analysis. The problem is, they're darned expensive. Still, based on that, a well done digital display should be fine. I have an analog RS meter at home and the digital is every bit as readable, if not more so. CH __________________ I used to be an audiophool like you but then I took an arrow to the knee.

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26th December 2009, 07:10 PM	#3
DreadPirate diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Virginia, USA	I have that RS meter and it is ideal. I would insist on a needle movement. Why not order it? The meter can be calibrated, but does not come with a calibration certificate, you would have to send it out.

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