I don't need it to test how loud my car is. All I want is to tune the frequency response. Wal-mart has one for $15 right now: http://www.walmart.com/catalog...94329

Can anyone say if it's good for what I want? I can't find any meaningful specs for it, so I don't know if it will sense the very low and high frequencies.

There is also this for 6x the price: http://cgi.ebay.com/NADY-DSM-1...wItem

I don't know if it's worth it if the cheaper option is just fine. Any suggestions?


Modified by Odessa at 10:52 AM 9/7/2006

 

You get what you pay for
Although I am not sure how you are going to "tune the frequency response" with a SPL meter, if accuracy is what your looking for, I would be willing to bet a $15 Wall Mart SPL meter, [BTW does not show on link] is not going to be anywhere near as accurate as the Nady on eBay. 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> You get what you pay for
Although I am not sure how you are going to "tune the frequency response" with a SPL meter, if accuracy is what your looking for, I would be willing to bet a $15 Wall Mart SPL meter, [BTW does not show on link] is not going to be anywhere near as accurate as the Nady on eBay. 94 </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, wrong link...but it's fixed now. I would tune it by playing each frequency at the same volume level and see what it gives me on the SPL meter. From there I can use the EQ to equalize everything to a same level on the SPL meter. For this I don't need it to be accurate. The only accuracy I need is for it to be consistent. So if I play 50hz 10 times, I always want to see the same reading on the meter. That price of $15 is tempting, might give it a try. If it's crap, then I guess ebay is always a good place to get rid of it. They sell the same one for $30 Or just return it...it's Wal-Mart

 

You are only going to be as accurate as the accuracy of the mic picking up the frequencies.

Since a mic is essentially a speaker I think you already know the output is not linear. Which means it will be better at picking up some frequencies vs others.

If I was trying to do this I would not be using a $15 walmart brand. Might as well tune by ear.

 

Damn, but you're right. What are the chances that a more expensive meter does not suffer from the same problem? It makes things so much harder...

 

OIC, that Scosche POS, we have 2 or 3 of them, [not working] at the shop, Scosche reps gave one to all the installers, My advice, they are not worth the effort. 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Odessa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Damn, but you're right. What are the chances that a more expensive meter does not suffer from the same problem? It makes things so much harder... </TD></TR></TABLE>

There is no guarantee other then if your selling for more money then you have more money to build a better design.

 

One word: TERMLAB!
If you want consistancy it is the standard. I would suggest looking for a local shop that has one.

 

I'll just try tuning it by ear and save my self some bucks. After all if my ear can't hear a difference between the sound level of 2 frequencies, then it won't matter tuning it by a device.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by audioroach &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">One word: TERMLAB!
If you want consistancy it is the standard. I would suggest looking for a local shop that has one.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, that's the expensive stuff that I'm not willing to spend money on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Odessa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, that's the expensive stuff that I'm not willing to spend money on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Most shops will help you out for a fee. This is what I did when I tuned mined. Ended up not liking it and decided to tune by ear. After all its my ears that I am trying to please.

Good luck

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxxtreme &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Most shops will help you out for a fee. This is what I did when I tuned mined. Ended up not liking it and decided to tune by ear. After all its my ears that I am trying to please.

Good luck </TD></TR></TABLE> Ditto that, a "flat" response sounds like kaka, you need the proverbial smiley face spectrum analyzer readout for it to sound any good 94

 

As others have stated b4 a true flat response sucks donkey *****!!! Okay maybe that was over the top just a lil-If you want to compete or get a base reading (RTA)
of the cars response the SA-3055 by audio control or TermLab is the way to go. Mnay shops will charge a few bucks to measure it-avg is $25-60. But really you should do it by ear...we have the best computer residing between our ears. Tune it to what sounds good to you,and enjoy it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Ditto that, a "flat" response sounds like kaka, you need the proverbial smiley face spectrum analyzer readout for it to sound any good 94</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is what I always set my EQ to - a "smiley face"...on all my car/home audio. But doesn't that equal a flat response? Keeping your EQ at this face - ...doesn't equal a flat response. Low and high frequencies aren't reproduced at same volume as mid-frequencies, therefore, we get a "frowning" face ...at our "flat response meter", which is different from the face on EQ. After making the EQ smile ...the "flat response meter" evens out to this face Well..at least this is what is going on in my head..I could be wrong.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Odessa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Keeping your EQ at this face - ...doesn't equal a flat response.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes it does. It doesn't equal a flat perceived response though.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Low and high frequencies aren't reproduced at same volume as mid-frequencies</TD></TR></TABLE>

They are, but our hearing is less sensitive to the low and high frequencies, therefore they seem quieter than the mids.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">we get a "frowning" face ...at our "flat response meter", which is different from the face on EQ.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The "flat response meter" that you're referring to has an A-weighting curve which corresponds to the sensitivity of the human hearing. And that curve looks like this: . If the meter was really flat response, the curve would be flat, and it would follow the curve of the eq.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by audioroach &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As others have stated b4 a true flat response sucks donkey *****!!! .....Tune it to what sounds good to you,and enjoy it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Everyone has different preferences. I have my eq set flat and I like the sound of it. Everybody else that needs a smiley face on the eq got used to the way it sounds, and now complains that flat sounds like caca. My resoning behind the flat eq was that a recording was made to sound a certain way, and why should I change the way it sounds?

If you really want to find out how a flat eq sounds, set it to flat for at least a few days (maybe a week). If you're used to the way it sounds now ( ), and you change it to for a few minutes, it's obvious that you will not like the sound of it.

I had the same problem when I removed my rear speakers. At first, I hated how it sounded. But then I got used to it, and now I love it.

And as audioroach said,
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by audioroach &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tune it to what sounds good to you,and enjoy it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They are, but our hearing is less sensitive to the low and high frequencies, therefore they seem quieter than the mids.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Our hearing + speaker's response = makes it even worse. Therefore you need to on EQ.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The "flat response meter" that you're referring to has an A-weighting curve which corresponds to the sensitivity of the human hearing. And that curve looks like this: . If the meter was really flat response, the curve would be flat, and it would follow the curve of the eq.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, that's what I'm talking about...at least that's the idea. Either your hearing or speaker's response destroys the flatness and makes you hear a frowning response If you leave your EQ at , you will leave whatever you hear at .

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My resoning behind the flat eq was that a recording was made to sound a certain way, and why should I change the way it sounds?</TD></TR></TABLE>

From my understanding, they produce a flat response in the studios, but your hearing and speakers cannot "hear" it, and all you hear is when your EQ is at Now, sound equipment (and I guess everyone's hearing) differs from one another, and some might reproduce a flatter response better than others. Therefore it'd be wise to send a flat signal to the recoring mic in the studios, and then at home or in your car you can adjust for the way you hear and your speakers reproduce frequencies...and the way you like it.

Also, I'm not a techy, but if you ever tried transfering old tapes to a pc, then you would need to send a line level signal, not one with EQ. If you send it with EQ, then your outcome will be distorted. Maybe that is also the reason why the music is recorded that way.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you really want to find out how a flat eq sounds, set it to flat for at least a few days (maybe a week). If you're used to the way it sounds now ( ), and you change it to for a few minutes, it's obvious that you will not like the sound of it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

First, I still don't understand how it is flat when your ears hear it like this . Second, you lose clarity when you leave it at . I like clear highs, that's why I will never be satisfied with that right-sided frown

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Odessa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Our hearing + speaker's response = makes it even worse. Therefore you need to on EQ.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That would be the reason for building speakers with a flat response.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Either your hearing or speaker's response destroys the flatness and makes you hear a frowning response If you leave your EQ at , you will leave whatever you hear at .</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd say leave everything flat, and get used to the way it sounds. After a while, it will sound and not .

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now, sound equipment (and I guess everyone's hearing) differs from one another, and some might reproduce a flatter response better than others.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Eqing equipment for a flat response is reasonable, but eqing your hearing for flatness? Doesn't make sense to me. People were born to hear things a certain way, and eqing that to make everything sound different seems like a stupid idea. That's how you are supposed to hear things; leave it at that and get used to it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can adjust for the way.....you like it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is where personal preference comes in.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, I'm not a techy, but if you ever tried transfering old tapes to a pc, then you would need to send a line level signal, not one with EQ. If you send it with EQ, then your outcome will be distorted. Maybe that is also the reason why the music is recorded that way.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The only reason I can see for the recording coming out that way is the eq overdrives the sound card input, forcing it to clip the signal. If you keep the signal level within spec, the only distortion will come from the eq, which you would get during normal playback anyway.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">First, I still don't understand how it is flat when your ears hear it like this .</TD></TR></TABLE>

The signal is flat, and that's the way you were designed to hear it. Get used to it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Second, you lose clarity when you leave it at . I like clear highs, that's why I will never be satisfied with that right-sided frown </TD></TR></TABLE>

Personal preference again. I like clear highs too. And I only have 1 db of boost at 20k (everything else is flat). Don't need any more than that. I could get used to having everything ruler flat without a problem, but I like the slightly boosted high end.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That would be the reason for building speakers with a flat response.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

They are moreless flat in the mid frequencies, but not in the low/high... Take a look at some frequency response graphs to see how flat a speaker is.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'd say leave everything flat, and get used to the way it sounds. After a while, it will sound and not .</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then why use a RTA to flatten the response? Much easier and cheaper is to turn off the EQ.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Eqing equipment for a flat response is reasonable, but eqing your hearing for flatness? Doesn't make sense to me. People were born to hear things a certain way, and eqing that to make everything sound different seems like a stupid idea. That's how you are supposed to hear things; leave it at that and get used to it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your hearing is only human and far from being perfect. With aging it gets even worse, thus requiring a different EQ setting.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only reason I can see for the recording coming out that way is the eq overdrives the sound card input, forcing it to clip the signal. If you keep the signal level within spec, the only distortion will come from the eq, which you would get during normal playback anyway.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Obviously you've never transfered audio from tape to pc. No matter what your EQ setting is, or what your signal level is, it will sound horrible on your computer. I'm talking from experience.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 02 accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The signal is flat, and that's the way you were designed to hear it. Get used to it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Signal is flat when it's flat in my ear. You can talk loud (relatively), but if it's not loud enough for me to hear, then what difference does it make?