Product type: Digital display sound level / decibel meter
Manufacturer: manufactured for Radio Shack
Product information pages: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... age=search
http://www.keene.co.uk/pages/downloads/ ... LM2055.pdf
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/spl-meter_e.html
http://www.prosoundweb.com/studyhall/la ... lm_4.shtml
Price: now $49.99 (was around $60 when I bough this years ago)
Place where bought: Radio Shack http://www.radioshack.com/
Product web page says:
"Get precise readings when you fine-tune audio response of a stereo, PA or home theater system in combination with an equalizer."
* Reads 50 to 126dB SPL, and has "A" or "C" weightings
* Includes carrying case
* Battery operated
"Disclaimer: This meter should be used for home/hobbyist use only. This meter does not meet the requirements set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Standard S1.4."
My comments:
This is the first reasonably priced Digital sound level meter I saw years ago when I bough this meter from Radio Shack. His device is a a handy, portable, lightweight, easy to use and affordable measurign device. t has a fully adjustable sensitivity range, from 50 to 126 dB, which is enough for most normal needs. You can measure average and peak sound pressure leve on 3-digit digital displayl, and there is an analog bargraph as well. I can choose between Weighted A (for normal noise measurents) and C (for hifi and loud sound) measurements. This device can be easily attached to normal camera tripod. And this device has analogue line level output (RCA connector).
Based on the features and this meter looked like a very good buy.
This unit has several downsides though:
- Being an inexpensive meter, its accuracy is just fair.
- the frequency response is limited (something like 50 Hz - 10 kHz)
- there are very many measurements ranges t use, and the sound level range each of them is pretty limited (practically soudn 10 dB per range), meanign if your sound level changes a lot, you need to change the measuring range quite often
This unit I have had has helped me on very many audio realted measurements over the years. It has proven to be the worth of the price.
If I would need to do serious daily audio measurements, I would propably consider investing on something more professional unit that is better cablibated and wider measuring ranges (no need to adjust range switch too often).
Some links:
Radio Shack dB meter frequency response details
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum ... adid=26728
http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthrea ... n/0/page/0
Useful Modifications to the RadioShack Analog SPL Meter
http://www.stereotimes.com/acc032902.shtm
This describes modifications to the analogue cousin of this meter for better readings. I quess that the general idea could be useable for digital meter as well.. I have not tries those myself.
