DB Meter

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=81211
Printed Date: May 11, 2024 at 6:33 PM

Topic: DB Meter

Posted By: rboutin2
Subject: DB Meter
Date Posted: August 04, 2006 at 5:55 PM

Where could i buy an spl meter that goes higher than 140, and doesn't cost me an arm and a leg? (like $60)

Replies:

Posted By: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: August 04, 2006 at 7:06 PM

Plain and simple, you wont.

Meters are expensive period. If you have some local shops around you call them and ask if they have a audiocontrol 190 or term lab system, both are very very accurate and are the meters used in all sanctioned competitions.

Audiocontrol units generally go for $1000 or more for a complete system

Term-lab setups rang $600-$800 and require a laptop to run the sofware required to use the meter.

I prefer the Term-lab and have had one since the begining of this competition season, really the best purchase I have made all season!

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2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place

Posted By: spookiestylez
Date Posted: August 04, 2006 at 8:30 PM

if you have a laptop, you can DL the free version of TrueRTA, and you'll still need a nice mic and a preamp. some high end sound cards will have 24v phantom power, but I'd say get a nice belhringer shark preamp...it has a numeric display too, and a belhringer ecm8000 flat response mic....about $130 w/o tax or shipping from partsexpress.com

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RTFM

Posted By: luckydevil
Date Posted: August 05, 2006 at 7:46 PM

WalMart has one made by Scosche that is only $20. Supposedly goes up to 135 decibels. Radio shack also has a couple (digital and analog) for $40 that go up to 126dB.

I wouldn't expect any of those to be very accurate by any means.

https://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4694329
https://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productid=2103667&cp=&origkw=spl&kw=spl&parentPage=search
https://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productid=2103668&cp=&origkw=sound+meter&kw=sound+meter&parentPage=search

Like it was said above, you gotta fork over some cash for the good stuff.

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: August 05, 2006 at 9:40 PM

TrueRTA can indicate up to +180db SPL, but the key to measuring high SPL values is the microphone (and in the case of TrueRTA, the ability of your sound card.) Most measurement mics normally used with TrueRTA cannot handle that kind of input levels. I have a Shure KSM137 and with its 25db pad activated it can withstand a 165db SPL, but only within a very limited frequency band. It's a $575 microphone. There is a reason the good quality high-SPL meters are expensive, and it's because it is just as hard to measure high SPL as it is to biuld a system that generates high SPL. The Rat Shack SPL meter is capable of around 125db and is quite accurate BTW.

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Posted By: luckydevil
Date Posted: August 05, 2006 at 9:48 PM

nouseforaname wrote:

i think his question was for one that went OVER 140dB.

He also said that he wanted one for $60. Just giving him some options.