SPL Meter VS IPhone SPL Meter, The Decibel Meter Challenge!
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2019
- www.smithmusic.ca The Decibel Meter Challenge we find out if an IPhone SPL Meter is as accurate as a dedicated SPL meter. We Put Decibel X against my radio shack DB meter to see how accurate it is.
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One added bonus of some apps (I use Decibel X) is that you can get one of the graphs to show volume against audio frequency. Using this a white noise test signal should show the same volume at all frequencies, so you can tweak the equaliser settings to get as close to this as your setup permits.
Actually C-Weighting is for measuring peaks especially for situations where transmission of lower frequencies is an issue due to it's relativwly flat curve response, A-Weighting is the most accurate weighting for the human ear curve as it cuts the lower and higher frequencies that our ears can't hear and matches the response curve of the human ear the most accuratley out of the weightings. The C weighting will give the most accurate response of the frequencies being generated especially with lower frequencies that could cause physcial issues with the pressure of the waves or resonance and phasing issues that would arrise with extreme bass frequencies wheras the A weighting with its dramtically redecued bass response curve matches what we hear as humans with our ears, so in essence what we interpret the level of sound as. A for human perception, C for peaks.
Thank you for the info. When I bought the radio shack SPL meter many years ago I read the manual and what I "implanted" in my memory was that the C weighted scale was the most accurate for music applications. Reading this article www.noisemeters.ca/help/faq/frequency-weighting/ was interesting. It appears that C-wieghting is more accurately how we hear at 100db and above which for concerts is usually the case. This is not my area of expertise, but if I am to trust this article it appears that A weighting is for under 100 db and C is used above 100db.
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Uk gov use A
@@un-_-known688 Unfortunately, I think a lot of governments and police still use the A-weighted exclusively. This can be a disadvantage when dealing with noise-nuisance issues, because it doesn't pick up the low frequencies as well (bass, car/truck.motorcycle rumbles, etc.)
@@SmithMediaSolutions I actually think that ( I have no idea if I'm right tho) the A weighting is more accurate for human singing or human voice and the C weighting better represents the lower bass frequency of the buffer box and the sound that hits you in the chest when coming through the walls.
Thank you. Was curious how close the phone actually could be.
Thank you!!! I was hoping someone had done this.
You are most welcome:)
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Trying to compare loudness levels between kitchen appliances inside big tiled kitchen vs loud TV in larger but ?dampened sitting room. Do electric motor sounds of same dB feel louder then TV bass & dialog?
The app is still going strong up to date 🔥😇
I'm so happy I found your video. I have a much better understanding about my decibel meter when reading it. I have a Radio Shack meter just like yours. 👍👍
Awesome. What are you using it for?
nice good stuff mate
Is it accurate at all to just buy a calibrated sound monitor and measure my speakers db in my home? Ive seen a few of them on Amazon in the $30 to $80 range. I have a set of JBL L50's which had a replacement woofer put in by a previous owner, and Id just like to know if its higher or lower than the original woofer specs from the factory in 1979. Thanks.
A SPL. Meter is totally different from a db meter. You can have high SPL and low db meter. So how do you calibrate the apps.
THANK YOU!
I like the iPhone SPL meter but I want to measure the SPL on videos played in my iPhone.
The iPhone jumps around a lot doesn’t mean it’s bad… you played a song, which sounded in wider range. The iPhone is more sensitive and responded faster. That’s a good thing ! In fact the SPL meter is 10-20 years old technology… nobody should be surprised. In fact, Radio shack is mostly out of business…
I use radio shack for theater speaker levels with test tones
The free version uses Z-Weighting ....how does that affect the reading?
not much, if you measure a 1k sinewave the weighting should always match
why wouldn't you use pink or white noise to see accuracy?
i think clean waves would resonate via walls? It's a guess...
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@@laurabrown7086 Silence!
Yea that app is like $50 while the radio shack spl meters are around $25 on eBay lol
Should I watch the average while measuring for home theater?
Good question, I assume you are using some sort of test oscillator through the system. The instruction manual should say if you should use the peak or the average. Average levels should work if they don't specify.
Thank you for your ultra fast reply!!!!!!!
Denon doesn’t specify if should be measured the average or not. Also another think that confuses me is that , in denons manual is been written that the sub trim of crossover must be closed and at my subwoofers manual says all over open. Also I am not sure if have to set all my speaker to an average 70db or 75db cause we re talking about a 107 spuare feet room where the system is been set.
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If an actual metering device engineered and manufactured for the sole purpose of measuring spl level requires frequent calibration to be accurate, why would anyone in the field of live sound production stake his or her reputation on a free app that has no calibration method and utilizes the microscopic cell phone mic to sample the sound?
That is a great point
OK, but if we want to measure for ear damage, do we use scale A or scale B ?
I am not sure. That would be a question for an audiologist. Sorry I couldn't help you out with that.
in basic audio that 121 db above is at scale B according to my science book then my ear nose and throat doctor told me. the higher the threshold of audio is
. the more it's dangerous and 121 db above would cause ear damage.
I just got the information from science insider I think months ago and they had to say that they would rather you not to listen anything over 75-85 decibels because there are small hairs in your ears will get irreversible damage if listening to loud sounds even apple when using AirPods will encourage you to stay to be at or below 80 decibels
But not sure tho I just know that some companies rather you to listen to 80 or below so that you don’t damage them I could be wrong tho
Does the app works well with subwoofers???
yes
LETS FIND OUT
Sounds good to me..
Thx. I need up to 150 for car audio subwoofer testing. Looks like its max is 130. Bummer
I think I’m at 145db spl.
I find the car stereo "cult":) fascinating. My understanding is that the human ear starts to distort at 110db. Why would anyone want to listen to music at levels of an atomic bomb going off? I am actually interested in an answer. This is not a sarcastic rhetorical question.
Lol ‘cult’ . I enjoy the design, planning & building of low voltage with high output. My goal is to win 1st place at USACi SPL competition. I’ve only ever entered once & got second place appx 14 years ago I had to postpone ambitions to be a father. I enjoy the physics & mechanics of sound waves. Troubleshooting electrical issues & using my multimeter & other gadgets I have. I’m a network engineer by trade also. I don’t know if I answered. But I’ll say I don’t play 40hz at Max volume without ear protection. Duh I like my hearing too. It’s like when I take wife to gun range for the first time I told her I don’t want to get *shot either. Or when I’m teaching my daughter to change oil she worries car will fall on us. I tell her I don’t want to get crushed either. So I explain the wheel chucks, e-brake & Jack stands capacity vs car weight & level ground. I mitigate threats & vulnerabilities & then I partake in risk. 😆😉😉 so I take it you don’t know where I can get an spl meter to meet or exceed 150db? Atomic bombs are higher than 145db I had this debate in my bassheads group or cult as you put it😆. Nice video btw. This app stops at 130 for me.
So atomic bomb at 250ft away is appx 210db. Decibels are Deadly around 185-200 db. Permanent eardrum damage at 150db. Again this isn’t how loud I listen at Only with ear protection. Which Type if db I don’t know. But SPL is my goal in measuring. I had to replace all my tail lights with LED & place roof repair flashing tape all over to reduce the vibrating noises. Sounds solid now. It’s an anger outlet & keeps me out of trouble. I don’t play loud in neighborhoods at least not after 10p 😆. Definitely not loud in my neighborhood.
@@cygooseitllc9533 That’s not true at all. Permanent damage can be caused at 88db(a) with an exposure time of 4 hours. With every three db increase, cut your exposure time in half. If you were listening to a car stereo at 100db, your exposure time would be 15 minutes. Your car stereo is definitely not doing 145db. More like 100-110, which is plenty damaging.
I prefer the spl meter
I really hate to have so many apps on my iPhone. It drains and ages my battery. Not good. I’ll buy a dedicated db meter on Amazon for like 15 bucks.
It’s fair I think. Thanks for the video 👍🏾
what is this app called?
Decibel X
a m should a meter app on Android
Burp at 10:32; LMAO !
A normal conversation is not over 70 dbs
but the app is not free...?thank you
get a job
@Porshia Franklin if i press the X its no gonna charge anything am i right? thx for your help
Just get into the point😡😡
video starts at 4:18 yw
Dude what a time saver you are.
No time for education and understanding everything he's showing....go straight to Cliff Notes, and stay dumb.
@@mr.c6674 hey not everyone wants to read A to Z encyclopedia volumes just to answer a simple question in a timely fashion. If the content proves valuable and warrants further interest then going back to watch the beginning isn't a difficult thing to do.