Can an SPL App keep up with the real thing?
Like a lot of you audiophiles, from time to time Ian gets the urge to tweak his setup, and as he was doing so the other day, a visiting friend was checking out his vintage Lutron SPL meter in amazement. (Truthfully, the styling is . . . rather retro!) For kicks, we asked her if there was an SPL App available for iPad and clickity-click, there was!
It was interesting to run pink noise through the speakers and watch the results on both devices. In most areas the two meters were quite close, but for low frequencies, the iPad SPL app was at a complete loss (more accurately no doubt the mic in the iPad was at a complete loss). I described the test to Alan Lofft, who would definitely have been impressed at the gorgeous and realistic graphics on the app, if nothing else!
Alan commented: “At lunch one day in a very noisy restaurant, Mike Trei showed us his iPad SPL meter, and said it was “better than nothing”. It would be interesting to compare the iPad spl meter to the Radio Shack SPL meter, which thousands own, since it’s always been widely available through the “Shack” stores, and it’s cheap ($50). The Shack spl meter is pretty accurate through the midrange. I’ve compared it to the one at Axiom in the listening room, shown in the photo. However, it’s acknowledged that the Radio Shack meter isn’t accurate at low frequencies. In fact there’s a correction curve available online for the RS meter.”
For random tests like “wow, how loud is my cubicle-mate playing that awful music?” the SPL app would be just fine, but out of the box without calibrating your device or hooking up an external microphone, to use it for tweaking your home theater system . . . well, as Bono would say “Nothin’ better than the real thing.”
Have you tried an SPL app? Did we simply rush the setup process, or does your experience mirror ours? Is there one you use and recommend?
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Perhaps a better mic?
http://www.lifeisaprayer.com/articles/photography/iphone-4-ipad-external-mic-audio-input
Yes, we were sure (pardon the mic pun!) the Mic had something to do with our results. The video on that link is really interesting – thank you for sharing!
What about the regular (non iOS/Android) SPL meters? How do the digital vs. analog ones compare? Seems like Radio Shack hasn’t made the tried and true analog for some time. maybe a topic for a future blog entry?
I have the same iPad app you show in the picture. One thing I have found is that the app is more accurate if you remove the iPad from the case. I find the the case tends to obstruct the mic somewhat. The app definitely measures differently when the iPad is nekked. I agree about the low frequency lack you pointed out.
The iPad app seems at least as good as the Rat Shack meter I have and it’s easier to see in the dark : )
Hi Amie! Good to hear from you again, even if it is a blog post.
I have used the Ultimate Ears SPL meter app on my iPhone, which seems to work generally about as well as my RS meter. I’m sure it doesn’t do the bass right, but my RS meter probably doesn’t either. It’s a free app since it’s advertising for Ultimate Ears–and darned if I know how you use an SPL meter with in-ear monitors!
–Ken
Hi Ken! Long time!!
Great to know about that app. I’m surrounded by iPhone users so we’ll have to check that one out for our next round of testing. Unbelievable all the apps that are out there now, isn’t it?
Thanks!