Radio Shack SPL  

At the risk of angering the audio gods (who shouldn't be using a cheapie SPL meter anyway), I have owned both, used both, and couldn't tell the difference.

Yes, a slightly wavering needle is a bit easier to read than a fluctuating digital readout, but it is really no big deal.

BTW, the one I kept is the digital one.


Cheers,
Bill

There is no difference. Just the analog is more intuitive to see, and cheaper. The digital works 100% fine.

I more interested in knowing if you really called 18 different Radio Shacks and then considered driving a implied long distance for a discontinued SPL meter?

People are going to start thinking they are rare collectors items. Ebay?

I just got my analogue meter from Radioshack online. They have them in stock and got it in just a few days. I love mine and the needle is very easy to see and read. Unless you are going to use it everyday then go with the cheaper one. Save the 10 bucks and go get a nice meal at the local drive through on the way home to eat while watching your favorite movie.

Jeff

Know your audience Jeff... I'd guess 80% of the forum members here have dropped at least $3000 on their speakers and called it a "bargain".

;)

Dreamaster

Anyone have the one from Parts Express? It's a little more expensive and the specs aren't much different. Are there any others in the $50 and under price range? I was thinking about getting one and figured I'd probably just get the Radio SHack one since it's the one always mentioned.

I did a quick search on RadioShack's Web site. They do show two SPL meters:

7-Range Analog Display Sound Level Meter (Item # 33-4050), which sells for $40

and


Digital-Display Sound-Level Meter (Item # 33-2055), which sells for $50.

I thought read from another thread that RS's SPL meters started at $30. :confused: From what I've read in this thread, it makes sense to save the $10 to get the analog meter, but if you don't want to buy from the Web site (b/c of shipping, etc.) and the brick-and-mortar store only has the digital version, then one should get that.

It was discontinued. now it is a current product again.

Why it went away..we will never know...

I figured the digital would be easier to work with, so I paid the extra $10 for it. Seemed fine to me when I used it. Came with a nice carry case too.

Apart from Radio Shack, are there any other better/more accurate SPL meters out there, regardless of price? Where can I find them? Any links?

Thanks.

The beauty of the RS meter isn't that it is accurate (it is awful), but the inaccuracies are consistent across multiple units and well-documented. This allows one to adjust their readings to get a highly accurate result.

Do other meters have this knowledge-base out there? Dunno.


Bill

RS' SPL meter is really that inaccurate? :eek: :confused:

If you can afford it, you should hang on to the meter. If you ever move your speakers, even a little, you should recalibrate. I've heard some say that they check their calibration monthly.

Here is a decent overview of home theater calibration.

And here is an overview of the meter

By the way, I've used both the analog and the digital. The rap on the digital is that it's harder to read a varying digital readout. If you're using sweep tones, or other varying test tones, that may (or may not) be true. But with the noise tones from either your receiver or one of the disks (Avia, Digital Video Essentials, Sound & Vision, etc.), the needle on the analog, or the digital readout, just goes to it's reading and holds steady. In that circumstance I find the digital easier to read. Either will suffice. Get the one you prefer and can afford.

Here are the Radio Shack SPL meter corrections