[tesseract]

Title says it all. I am looking for something other than the Rat Shack meter. This one seems like a good meter:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Galaxy-Audio-CM-140-Check-Mate-SPL-Meter-421162-i1134070.gc

This one is available locally, although it has no specs. Anyone have any info on this critter? I can't seem to find any anywhere. It is half the price of the one above, we all like to save money.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/American-Recorder-Technologies-Sound-Level-Meter?sku=420954

Any other ideas?

[RennoVattio]

...nice of them NOT to mention it's maximum SPL rating.

I guess the model number is a dead giveaway.

I just noticed that it does have a selectable A or C weighting option, that's good for testing bass.

[tesseract]

I have enough info on the Galaxy CM-140 to decide that it will do a great job for the money, I am just looking to save even more. http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/2008/07/check-mate-spl-meter-good-measure

"The CM-140: And the CM-140 offers a wider measurement range: 32 to 130 dB, versus about 54 to 126 dB for the (Radio Shack) 33-4050."

I am hoping when I go to the store tomorrow, the box and/or the instruction manual for the ART Sound Level Meter will divulge some info.

[honesthoff]

https://www.americanrecorder.com/detail.php?id=1784&search=meter&start_pos=0

Click the pdf icon for more info.  Looks like range is 35-130 db.

[tesseract]

The ART specs out similar the the Galaxy. Looks like I might as well save and get the ART. Thanks guys.

[Nyal Mellor]

I have the Galaxy one and it does the job. The only feature I would like is very slow averaging e.g. over 30 or 60 seconds, even the slow averaging varies a bit too fast to get really accurate levels.

You might also look at something like the Phonic or NTI which have many more useful features.

[jtwrace]

OP what are you going to use it for?  Just general measurements or??

I use calibrated http://www.naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html mics for REW measurements.  Jon is great to deal with as well.

[tesseract]

I'll check out your suggestions, Nyal, thank you.

jtwrace, I would like to start off with basic measurements, (subwoofer, CD test tones) but would like to get into something more advanced in the future (room measurements). Using my computer would be ideal, but I don't know where to start. My desktop is in an adjoining room, I would need a long mic cable (25') and probably a mic pre-amp?

[RPM123]

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, try the "Soundmeter" for $19.99, available on iTunes. 

[agentsmith]

I use a iPhone software called SPL.  It was recommended by a studio master engineer and he claims the iPhone is actually quite accurate when it comes to measurement of SPL.

[jtwrace]

I use a iPhone software called SPL.  It was recommended by a studio master engineer and he claims the iPhone is actually quite accurate when it comes to measurement of SPL.

I'm sure it's ok for basic SPL....I doubt it has a flat response to 20 Hz.

[Nyal Mellor]

When we did a comparison of the iphone spl vs the Galaxy there was a difference of 5dB between the two on pink noise. That's quite a substantial difference

[jtwrace]

When we did a comparison of the iphone spl vs the Galaxy there was a difference of 5dB between the two on pink noise. That's quite a substantial difference

Thanks for the confirmation.  I can't say that I'm surprised. 

[RPM123]

When we did a comparison of the iphone spl vs the Galaxy there was a difference of 5dB between the two on pink noise. That's quite a substantial difference

So the "Galaxy" was 5db off from the correct reading? LOL

[2002ss335]

I saw this Scosche - SLP1000F Digital Sound Pressure Meter at AS but I have not taken the time to compare it to the others mentioned here. The price is right.

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/68047?store=acousticsounds&keywords=NL043010

Regards,
Todd

[NagysAudio]

I have a digital Radio Shack SPL meter. If you're interested, I want to get rid of it.

[srb]

I am looking for something other than the Rat Shack meter.

I have a digital Radio Shack SPL meter. If you're interested, I want to get rid of it.

[tesseract]

Seems there are more out there than I thought. A Rat Shack clone, maybe?  http://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=detail&title_id=37534 Note the TAS awards... lol.

Would be nice to find one that is flat down to 20hz, although I realize that is asking a lot at this price point.

[Guy 13]

Hi all Audio Circle members.
I am looking for a SPL meter just to check my room acoustic,
my budget is super limited,
therefore I went browsing on the internet
and found two meters that are within my budget.
Galaxy CheckMate CM-130 at 130 USD
and the Triplett TSC-MC1 at 35 USD.
Unless I did not read correctly, both have about the same specifications.
Triplett is a well known brand to me
and at 35 USD it's within my budget,
as I mentionned above, I want to use it to check my room acoustic
and I am not looking for super accruacy.
Just want to get a general idea.
Any suggestions?
I would like to buy it on Amazon
because I have other items to order from Amazon.

Guy 13

[mgalusha]

If you really want to know about your room acoustics, a microphone and something like REW (Room EQ Wizard) is much more useful than an SPL Meter.

You can get the Dayton USB microphone from Amazon for under $100 USD.
http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-UMM-6-Measurement-Microphone/dp/B00ADR2E68

Another option is the UMIK-1 from MiniDSP
http://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1