Hi Guys
Does anyone out there have experience of the following Sound Level Meters? We are looking into replacing an elderly Bruel and Kjaer 2260 and so I wanted to get some feedback from people I trust! We are using the SLM to calibrate audiometers and other high-end acoustic gear, so we need a Class 1 device with a spectrum graphic display, or similar.
The B&K 2260 is still a current model, and there is now a 2250 and 2270 to consider. Our 2260 has a slight defect on the screen, and the cost of a repair is not really economical.
B&K claim the device needs calibration whenever it is repaired, and have in the past refused to return it uncalibrated. I know that the only "calibration" it needs is to read its performance as part of the audiometric calibration system with our other kit. As the last calibration report they gave us was nine pages of size 8 type where all the readings were "0.0", I think we were conned to the tune of £504!
I have trawled the internet, and automatically discarded suggestions of devices that claim to be Class 1 but have only basic display options and cost less than £1000. I suspect that such devices are not going to be adequate. The result is that there look to be only two other devices available for sale in the UK that might match or better the B&K machines. These are:
Svantek (Poland) model SVAN 979 distributed by ACSoft of Aylesbury at
www.acsoft.co.uk. Also the Samurai 2.0.
Rion (Japan) model NA-28 distributed by ANV measurement Systems at
www.noise-and-vibration.co.uk (no idea where they are except that the telephone number starts 01908).
I have to say that the brochure for the Rion shows a graph format that would potentially make NBN readings much easier (they tend to fluctuate quite fast, being a tuned white noise).
The Svantek looks a bit old-fashioned and clunky with a small colour screen, but as all these machines now allow for PC viewing of data collected, this should be less of a problem.
The Samurai looks as if it does some useful graphs, but I don't know whether it is possible to connect it up to the audiometry kit I have here. I would have to have a better brochure and more advice to decide that!
If you use such devices, especially the models mentioned above, I would be grateful if you could share any info you think was useful. If you have another device that you think is way better and I haven't found it yet, that would be great too.
