Any sound meter recommendations?

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Josh-PTP
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Josh-PTP »

Bendersquint wrote:No that would not be accurate, not fast enough rise.


ok I'm a little db meter dumb... but all the specs seem to be compatible.. what am I missing?

Josh
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Bendersquint
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Bendersquint »

Josh-PTP wrote:
Bendersquint wrote:No that would not be accurate, not fast enough rise.


ok I'm a little db meter dumb... but all the specs seem to be compatible.. what am I missing?

Josh
The rise time is not fast enough to catch the peak of the gunshot, it will catch the trailing end.
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Tony M. »

Bendersquint wrote:
Josh-PTP wrote:
Bendersquint wrote:No that would not be accurate, not fast enough rise.


ok I'm a little db meter dumb... but all the specs seem to be compatible.. what am I missing?

Josh
The rise time is not fast enough to catch the peak of the gunshot, it will catch the trailing end.
Reading through my old 2209 manual, I noticed that it mentioned that the standard min rise time of 20 microseconds could actually be reduced to as little as 5 microseconds with minor internal alterations, and it suggests contacting B&K to talk with them about it.

Does anyone think such a modification would actually be beneficial?

Would it increase measured SPL from a gunshot?
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Bendersquint
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Bendersquint »

Tony M. wrote: Would it increase measured SPL from a gunshot?
It very well may, B&K can probably answer that question.
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unclemoak
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by unclemoak »

I finally got my 800b in the mail today. Although I haven't yet found the correct mic for it, I must say I'm thoroughly confused on how to use it. Looks like I'll be spending the next couple days reading the instruction manual.


Hopefully the B&K I have on the way is a little easier to use than this thing.
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Bendersquint »

unclemoak wrote:I finally got my 800b in the mail today. Although I haven't yet found the correct mic for it, I must say I'm thoroughly confused on how to use it. Looks like I'll be spending the next couple days reading the instruction manual.


Hopefully the B&K I have on the way is a little easier to use than this thing.
The LD is easier to use than the BK2209.
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unclemoak
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by unclemoak »

Bendersquint wrote:
unclemoak wrote:I finally got my 800b in the mail today. Although I haven't yet found the correct mic for it, I must say I'm thoroughly confused on how to use it. Looks like I'll be spending the next couple days reading the instruction manual.


Hopefully the B&K I have on the way is a little easier to use than this thing.
The LD is easier to use than the BK2209.
Any tips or pointers to get either unit up and running?
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by saigatechusa »

JasonM wrote:
saigatechusa wrote:B&K made the meter 20 years ago that AAC still uses

B&K doesn't do testing of firearms
No, AAC moved on to a new system years ago.

As of 2012 AAC's documentation still listed 3052 B&K
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unclemoak
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by unclemoak »


Reading through my old 2209 manual, I noticed that it mentioned that the standard min rise time of 20 microseconds could actually be reduced to as little as 5 microseconds with minor internal alterations, and it suggests contacting B&K to talk with them about it.

Does anyone think such a modification would actually be beneficial?

Would it increase measured SPL from a gunshot?

I'm working with B&K to try to figure that out right now. They will no longer work on the units themselves because of their age, so I'm trying to see if they'll point me in the right direction as to which capacitor needs changed.


"Unfortunately, we don’t offer any services on these meters anymore due to their age and technology. The concern is that we would go into the unit, modify it and then something else would fail as the 2209 is famous for this issue, (or rather infamous for). My apologies. I wish we could help on this one, but we can’t. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with. "

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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

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unclemoak wrote: ...
"Unfortunately, we don’t offer any services on these meters anymore due to their age and technology. The concern is that we would go into the unit, modify it and then something else would fail as the 2209 is famous for this issue, (or rather infamous for). My apologies. I wish we could help on this one, but we can’t. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with."
Since they won't work on it anymore, see if they will provide a complete set of circuit diagrams so you can have qualified service personnel work on it. That would be incredibly helpful.
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Josh-PTP »

What about a Larson Davis 800b meter? Would this be fast enough to catch the peak of the sound? Also what microphone would you need for this?

Thanks for the help.
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

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Josh-PTP wrote:What about a Larson Davis 800b meter? Would this be fast enough to catch the peak of the sound? Also what microphone would you need for this?

Thanks for the help.
Yes, the LD800B is one of the 2 meters that exist to give mil-spec results.
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Tony M. »

I'll be interested to hear the results of further communication. I agree that a complete diagram of the circuit would be helpful.
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Bendersquint
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Bendersquint »

srs wrote:
unclemoak wrote: ...
"Unfortunately, we don’t offer any services on these meters anymore due to their age and technology. The concern is that we would go into the unit, modify it and then something else would fail as the 2209 is famous for this issue, (or rather infamous for). My apologies. I wish we could help on this one, but we can’t. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with."
Since they won't work on it anymore, see if they will provide a complete set of circuit diagrams so you can have qualified service personnel work on it. That would be incredibly helpful.
Neither company will release circuit diagrams or blueprints for their products, even the ones retired decades ago.
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unclemoak
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by unclemoak »

Bendersquint wrote:
Josh-PTP wrote:What about a Larson Davis 800b meter? Would this be fast enough to catch the peak of the sound? Also what microphone would you need for this?

Thanks for the help.
Yes, the LD800B is one of the 2 meters that exist to give mil-spec results.

For the 800b you'd need a 2530 mic.
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k31user
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by k31user »

Unfortunately there isn't a cheap way of measuring gun shots. I still have my old BK2209 even though I use a different method(but a bit more expensive and time consuming)now.
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unclemoak
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by unclemoak »

Just a quick pro tip for anyone buying or searching for a meter online. Make sure the seller confirms it works.

I ended up getting my meter then talking to an audio tech to get it up and running, but it turned out the meter was shot and wouldn't work. Thankfully the eBay seller was willing to give me a refund on the meter.
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unclemoak
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by unclemoak »

It took some searching, but I finally came up with a handful of meters. Some work and some are for parts. The best part is they were all FREE!!!

Now I just have to find some microphones.

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Artful
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

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Way cool find keep us posted.
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Re: Any sound meter recommendations?

Post by Conqueror »

Most people who do a lot of silencer metering went to computer-based systems a long time ago. Tinkering with these old beasts is probably fun though.
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