Recommendation for cheap decibel meter?

[Kawaii Koneko]

Like the title says, I'm looking for a cheap decibel meter. I just want to do simple things like measure interior noise in my car and fan noise from my various electronics. I might do a little sound system testing as well.

 

I was looking at this one: https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-ProductsÂ-Decibel-Reader-Battery/dp/B00ECCZWWI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518406426&sr=8-3&keywords=decibel+meter

 

By cheap, I mean like under $30. This is something I'll rarely use so I don't want to spend much but want something that will actually work.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Also, I own an Audio-Technica ATR2100 mic. Any chance that would work with some PC software or do I need something actually calibrated for measuring decibels?

[DrMacintosh]

There has to be a free app for this......

[knightslugger]

A sound pressure mic is not the same as a voice mic. We use very specialized equipment for getting db readings of various firearm sound suppressors and they are NOT cheap. THOUSANDS of dollars. You can get -ish numbers from a free app, and really they are no better than a Radio-shack special (or anything you could get on amazon) but they are not calibrated, so it might not even be remotely close.

[Zmax]

How about renting one . I am sure you could rent good one

[knightslugger]

You'll have to make due with a cheap close enough type meter. I don't know anyone who would rent out a B&K to a total stranger.

[Zmax]

Found a rental place. But prices are way out there. 200.00$ us for one week.

 

You might as well buy cheap one. 

 

https://www.noisemeters.com/rental/

[knightslugger]

16 minutes ago, Zmax said:

Found a rental place. But prices are way out there. 200.00$ us for one week.

 

You might as well buy cheap one. 

 

https://www.noisemeters.com/rental/

What model? $200/week might be a steal...

[Zmax]

3 minutes ago, knightslugger said:

What model? $200/week might be a steal...

https://www.noisemeters.com/rental/slm/cel240/

 

Not sure of the brand

[knightslugger]

1 minute ago, Zmax said:

https://www.noisemeters.com/rental/slm/cel240/

 

Not sure of the brand

$900 sound meter. It's a Casella CEL-240. Would be just fine for portable environmental work.

[Kawaii Koneko]

On 2/11/2018 at 9:55 PM, DrMacintosh said:

There has to be a free app for this......

There are but I figured the mic on a smartphone wouldn't even be remotely close to being accurate enough for even an -ish reading. I'm sure there are free ones for PC as well but even then, I don't think my mic will do.

On 2/11/2018 at 10:13 PM, knightslugger said:

A sound pressure mic is not the same as a voice mic. We use very specialized equipment for getting db readings of various firearm sound suppressors and they are NOT cheap. THOUSANDS of dollars. You can get -ish numbers from a free app, and really they are no better than a Radio-shack special (or anything you could get on amazon) but they are not calibrated, so it might not even be remotely close.

That's what I was thinking.  

 

So the handheld ones you see on Amazon for cheap are garbage? Won't they even get me close enough? I'm fine with being five db off.

 

On 2/11/2018 at 10:23 PM, Zmax said:

How about renting one . I am sure you could rent good one

Nah, this isn't a real need. I can live without measuring the db of my equipment and vehicles. This was just something I wanted to do for fun. I'm not about to waste $200 just to know my fan noise on my PC. If I can't do it cheap, I'm not going to bother. I'd rather spend $200 on a PC upgrade than a db meter lol.

[knightslugger]

10 hours ago, Kawaii Koneko said:

So the handheld ones you see on Amazon for cheap are garbage? Won't they even get me close enough? I'm fine with being five db off.

I would not consider +/-5db an -ish number. At that level, you're almost 4 times off the mark. every 3db is a doubling of sound pressure. In my book, an -ish number would be anything that can be accurate to 0.5db. BUT, if 5db is what you would consider accurate enough for your uses, the app on your phone should get you there.