Sound level meter basics and how to choose the right one?
measuring range
The measurement range of the sound level meter is the main technical index of the sound level meter, which to some extent represents the technical progressiveness of the product. Generally, the wider the measurement range, the better. The measurement upper limit of a sound level meter is determined by its maximum undistorted sound level, which can generally reach 130 dB; If high sound pressure levels (such as 172 dB) need to be measured, a high sound pressure microphone needs to be selected. The measurement lower limit of a sound level meter is closely related to the self generated noise of the sound level meter itself. If measuring low-level noise, a sound level meter equipped with a high-sensitivity microphone should be selected.
Interface
At present, sound level meters generally contain interfaces such as RS232 and USB, which are used to connect to micro printers or computers. Users can choose according to their testing needs. Some sound level meters also have wireless transmission function. If the tester needs to have a distance from the measured environment during measurement, then choosing a sound level meter with wireless function is the most suitable.
Supporting calibrator
During the use of a sound level meter, a sound calibrator is required for sound calibration. The sound calibrator is often used as a supporting instrument for the sound level meter and becomes an integral part of it. The sound calibrator should meet the requirements of GB/T 15173 for Level 1 or Level 2 sound calibrators. Level 1 sound level meters should be calibrated using Level 1 sound calibrators, and Level 2 sound level meters should be calibrated using Level 2 or Level 1 sound calibrators. It should be noted that some sound calibrators are greatly affected by altitude (mainly atmospheric density) and require correction, or sound calibrators with less pressure impact should be selected to avoid affecting measurement accuracy.
