Radioshack Analog Sound Level Meter Conclusion

(5.0 star rating)

Written by: Justin Whitaker

My Use of the Radioshack Analog Sound Level Meter - continued
Now came the more difficult part of the optimization exercise - adjusting the sound level for varying sound frequencies. Using the test tones and test tracks, I found that there was a sharp decrease in the sound level as the frequency got toward the low-end of the spectrum - around 200 Hz. This is the area where low-end sounds are not quite low enough to be handled by the subwoofer. I originally had the variable cross-over on my Polk PSW12 subwoofer set to 100 Hz, but after running through the tests I found the drop-off to be less pronounced with the subwoofer set to 150 Hz. I also found that moving the subwoofer away from the back wall in my basement helped keep the sound level more consistent above 80 Hz. However, even after trying various speaker placement and speaker volume settings, there is still a noticeable drop-off in the lower range. I am guessing that this is a limitation of my speakers, and no amount of readjustments will fix the problem.

Throughout my testing, the Radioshack SPL meter consistently provided results that were easy to read and easy to interpret. I found that I only rarely needed to lower the setting to 60 dB or to raise the setting to 80 dB in order to get results in the + / - sound level range. The battery lasted throughout my 5+ hours of testing. The meter is light enough that I didn't notice my arm getting tired or my hand getting worn out. I would have liked to have a slightly larger display for the individual dB readings, because it was sometimes hard to read the display as the needled moved around when I held it at arm's length, but this is a very minor point. Overall, the meter was very easy to set up and to use.