Turtlerock Forum

What brand of SLP meter do people find the most reliably accurate?

I don't know if mine is accurate, I have nothing to calibrate it against...but its had the same readings, against a test tone, and the same volume notches on my ADAMS monitors for a few years, so I can say it doesn't drift...

Mine is a Radio Shack SPL Meter

How accurate do you need it to be? I work as an acoustic consultant and we use Type 1 (Type 1 is a definition, not a brand) sound level meters which are calibrated regularly. I've compared side-by-side readings to cheaper Dick Smith-type meters while on site and the cheaper meters have generally been within a few dB of ours- I've even got an android app that's not too far out of the ballpark considering the mic it's using.
It depends on what you're using it for. Remember that the SPL you're measuring is a function of distance from the source, and the influence of the room characteristics around you too (absorption, reverb time, modes etc)

I've got a vintage Realistic SPL meter with a real VU meter in it - 30 years old and still going. I haven't had it calibrated but to my ear it under-reads by 2-3 dB.

I have two Radio Shack meters, one really old one and the other about 10 years old. I compared them with a Brüel & Kjær from work over a few different sound levels and they were all within a dB or 2 across the range.

There's a brand called Digitech which can be had for around $30-40. I reckon it's 2-3 dB within being accurate.

But I defer to Gillian's expertise, of course.

I got a $30 eBay jobbie, it reads the same as the SPL meter app on iPhone. No idea how accurate they are but they're the same!

Drumstruck wrote:30 years old and still going.

Sounds like me .

I guess it's something you buy once so I want a good one.

Hey Rick what do use?

i have a portable digital phonic one
and even more portable digital neutric one
and a not so portable flashy tef super system
and a really really not so portable
super flashy audio precision system

i sold my ridulously not so portable super flashy tube B&K master reference setup
some years back

i am sure i have a bunch of others stacked away ? .. oh yes i do
but i digress
i mostly use an iphone app ..

but the phonic is great cant think of the model number right now
but i think there is only one - recommended
it was cheapish