Got metered... I think

[Raven 10+ year member]

Long story:

I went to P&Js to buy a really cheap (inexpensive) 10" so I could try out a Decware Death Box. When he was there he mentioned an old SPL meter. It was about twice the size of a walkie talkie, black, battery operated, and had a dial to adjust it's sensetivity, from 44 decibels to 126 decibles. He said back in it's day it was *the* standard. Long before termlabs. He said there were only 2 instance of it being topped out.

So I tossed it into the front middle arm rest of my car, slapped in Track 14 on Bass Mechanik - Sonik Overload and scored a 123.5. Another guy there with 3 no name 12s and two no name amps scored (In a Chevy SUV) a 121.

Does anyone have any idea what SPL meter was used?

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

126 dB full scale?

I'm very skeptical of that. What high SPL meter would only read to 126 dB...as technology improves, scores go down, not up...

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

analog or digital. I'm assuming hand held. I have an extech that goes to 126, I think the radio shack goes about that high. I've found a few different manf. by doing a GOOGLE search for spl meter

 

[Raven 10+ year member]

No, I'm serious it was. Wasn't very sensetive, either. I talked into it really loud and couldn't even get it to register at the 64-76 db range.

 

[Raven 10+ year member]

It looked a lot like this: Radio Shack SPL Meter Only it was probably at least a decade old.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I don't think those scores really mean anything...at least, nothing comparable to today's readings.

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

here's what i bought, not knowing any better http://www.extech.com/instrument/products/400_450/407706.html

If you're looking for something to play around with http://www.splmeter.com a couple that are dash mounted, one with peak hold that goes to 150 for i think $159 and a cheaper one that's like $60-$70

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

BTW lemme know how the DB goes, and if you get stuck on a particular piece. I've built a few, Rattlebrain has, and Jack? or are you a tube guy only?