General Asylum

RE: Where can I get an SPL meter that works?

80.44.117.33

cawson@onetel.com

In Reply to: RE: Where can I get an SPL meter that works? posted by tlea on March 20, 2025 at 20:08:42

Accuracy using a phone relies on the crap microphone in the phone.

It's frequency range will be very limited (it's really designed to pick up speech only) and it is likely to be little better than useless. OK maybe for comparison purposes only, eg if you have 2 amps and need to know their volume settings so that both are equally loud.

Follow Ups:

RE: Where can I get an SPL meter that works? - AbeCollins 20:59:59 03/21/25 (0)
The NOISH App is deliberately NOT available on Android phones because the mics and phones are inconsistent. The NIOSH App is available only for iPhone.

AND... I compared iPhone SPL Apps against a cheapie dedicated SPL meter. They were within a fraction of a dB of each other. Not a true scientific test but audio measurements for our hobby isn't exactly rocket science.

See my other post.
Not true - E-Stat 10:55:33 03/21/25 (4)
Accuracy using a phone relies on the crap microphone in the phone.

As previously posted, there are aftermarket microphones that meet pretty tight NIOSH standards. Follow link within link for details. Each one comes with individual correction curves.

I've got one for my iPhone. :)

Honestly, the readings vary little between that, standard phone and a Radio Shack Digital using correction curves.
- calibration? - Leo loves music 13:47:59 03/21/25 (1)
  The microphone is calibrated. But the output of it is analog. How about the circuits inside iPhone? Like mic amp and A/D. Are these also calibrated?
  
  Edits: 03/21/25
  - Good question - E-Stat 15:40:10 03/21/25 (0)
    very good results found in linked documents.
- What APP have you found/used with that mic? - Edp 13:27:17 03/21/25 (1)
  I bought basically same unit with different iPad connector format in last week and have yet to open
  
  There are several I've seen referenced around different web sites, but interested in your experience
  - Studio Six - E-Stat 15:37:41 03/21/25 (0)
    follow the link in my previous post and scroll down a bit for more info.
No argument from me - tlea 08:26:13 03/21/25 (1)
Thus my question to the OP.

If the purpose is to compare the SPL of two sources, such as two different amps as you said or the balance delta between two stereo channels, the phone will probably work well enough.

Of course, so will your ears. ;> )

. . . in theory, practice and theory are the same; in practice, they are different . . .
- +1 Relative measurements don't require absolute accuracy - nt - AbeCollins 21:00:51 03/21/25 (0)
  .

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