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Posted: 6/27/2011 7:43:23 AM EDT
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I have a few cans and was thinking it'd be nice to actually measure the sound both ways - suppressed and not.
Any relatively inexpensive ways to do this? A quick Google showed a gunshot at 160db and the sub $100 devices to measure don't go that high. E: Typo |
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I have a few cans and was thinking it'd be nice to actually measure the sound both ways - suppressed and not. Any relatively inexpensive ways to do this? A quick Google showed a gunshot at 160db and the sub $100 devices to measure don't go that high. If you want believable results, it is not inexpensive. One can often find a used B&K 2209 or Larson-Davis 800B on e-bay for under $700, but either will need recertification and probably some repairs, which can almost double the cost. Then you have to look at a microphone element (1/4" pressure mic) which will run in the $750-1,200 range plus the adapter to a 1/2" preamp. Sadly, a cheap Radio-Shack type meter will not show an accurate suppressed or non-suppressed peak, and the difference between the two (reduction) shown will bear no relationship to what the suppressor actually does. The under $100 R-S type meter will probably show the non-suppressed to be in the 115-120 dB range, meaning that the detector has missed almost the entire peak pulse. If the reslts are not believable, the time and money spent would be more profitably spent on lottery tickets. Your better (and less expensive) option to get meaningful results is to get someone familiar with proper measurement techniques to do the measurements for you. John Titsworth (Silencer Research in Arkansas) is one source. |
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I have a few cans and was thinking it'd be nice to actually measure the sound both ways - suppressed and not. Any relatively inexpensive ways to do this? A quick Google showed a gunshot at 160db and the sub $100 devices to measure don't go that high. If you want believable results, it is not inexpensive. One can often find a used B&K 2209 or Larson-Davis 800B on e-bay for under $700, but either will need recertification and probably some repairs, which can almost double the cost. Then you have to look at a microphone element (1/4" pressure mic) which will run in the $750-1,200 range plus the adapter to a 1/2" preamp. Sadly, a cheap Radio-Shack type meter will not show an accurate suppressed or non-suppressed peak, and the difference between the two (reduction) shown will bear no relationship to what the suppressor actually does. The under $100 R-S type meter will probably show the non-suppressed to be in the 115-120 dB range, meaning that the detector has missed almost the entire peak pulse. If the reslts are not believable, the time and money spent would be more profitably spent on lottery tickets. Your better (and less expensive) option to get meaningful results is to get someone familiar with proper measurement techniques to do the measurements for you. John Titsworth (Silencer Research in Arkansas) is one source. Thanks for the input - I guess I'll leave all that to you all. I wanted to provide a detailed eval of the SandStorm and a Trek I recently ordered (and am waiting on), but at those prices, I can just buy more suppressors 
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The cost of testing equipment can be a bit prohibitive. You may be able to post in the hometown forum and find that someone or a company in your area has a 2209 and would help you out.
If a shooter in my area had land to shoot on, and wanted to test a suppressor when I was home I'd probably stop out and test it with him. Most of the people in the industry are pretty good people. I once stopped by and tested a suppressor with Phil Dater (PHD) above, I've also stopped by John Titsworth's house and tested a few suppressors with him. I've tested suppressors with a local guy in my area once using my equipment. All were good times- |
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John Titsworth (Silencer Research in Arkansas) is one source. yes, he is a source, but hasn't done any work in a very long time. So your money is best used elsewhere. He was at the Silencer Shoot in June. Had a dedicated bay. The criticism some are directing at Titsworth is that he charges a fee on his site for published data but hasn't published anything is quite sometime. So, those critics aren't suggesting the man is letting dust collect on his meter. They are merely pointing out that the published tests aren't many these days. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: John Titsworth (Silencer Research in Arkansas) is one source. yes, he is a source, but hasn't done any work in a very long time. So your money is best used elsewhere. He was at the Silencer Shoot in June. Had a dedicated bay. The criticism some are directing at Titsworth is that he charges a fee on his site for published data but hasn't published anything is quite sometime. So, those critics aren't suggesting the man is letting dust collect on his meter. They are merely pointing out that the published tests aren't many these days. John announced on his site today he is no longer going to do reviews, less the ones currently in progress (762-SDN6). |
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John announced on his site today he is no longer going to do reviews, less the ones currently in progress (762-SDN6). I haven't been to his site in a very long time and can't remember my login info. The e-mail I used to create the account no longer exists. His site requires a user account simply to browse. 
So... What did he give as his reason for stopping testing? |
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Quoted: Quoted: John announced on his site today he is no longer going to do reviews, less the ones currently in progress (762-SDN6). I haven't been to his site in a very long time and can't remember my login info. The e-mail I used to create the account no longer exists. His site requires a user account simply to browse. So... What did he give as his reason for stopping testing? Well I do not want to speak for him, but I think this statement sums it up -> "I am going to focus my efforts towards our gun company now." |
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Quoted: Quoted: John announced on his site today he is no longer going to do reviews, less the ones currently in progress (762-SDN6). I haven't been to his site in a very long time and can't remember my login info. The e-mail I used to create the account no longer exists. His site requires a user account simply to browse. So... What did he give as his reason for stopping testing? Kind of suspicious timing given the verbal tirade towards SilencerCo and ensuing beatdown he received because of his arrogant attitude. |
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John Titsworth (Silencer Research in Arkansas) is one source. yes, he is a source, but hasn't done any work in a very long time. So your money is best used elsewhere. He was at the Silencer Shoot in June. Had a dedicated bay. The criticism some are directing at Titsworth is that he charges a fee on his site for published data but hasn't published anything is quite sometime. So, those critics aren't suggesting the man is letting dust collect on his meter. They are merely pointing out that the published tests aren't many these days. Lets put it this way, I renewed my membership in November and he hasn't released any data since and now he's no longer releasing any at all. So in other words, I got bamboozled. |
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So many negative nancy's.
He doesn't state on his site that he guarantees testing at specified intervals for your $30. He states you can have access to his members forums & members test area. He even lists some for free as long as you create an account. For the amount of time and money he sank into his hobby I thought it was a pretty fair price to pay. I didn't have to spend all of that time & money on testing, ammo, equipment, hosts, suppressors etc etc etc. He did, and continues to do a great service for our community. I know many have circulated his testing to avoid paying the fee via emails. Regardless of their paying or stealing - his testing helped many people make informed purchasing decisions. There is a great divide within our beloved community. There probably always will be - as human nature often separates us from each other by way of opinion. I'm involved in the NFA community with a single end in mind. To spread the love, and most importantly - the knowledge of suppressors, SBR's, SBS's, AOW's, Machineguns & anything else that is currently heavily restricted. I want my children & their children to be able to play around in the desert/backwoods/bayou/marshland/ etc. with these items. I hope Titsworth gets better sleep at night having left the drama of testing behind him & the best of luck in his business endeavors. I wish the same for Bryon of MMM, Josh & the gang at SilencerCo - they have always treated me right. With dignity & respect, often times beyond what I deserved. I wish success & happiness to anyone in the shooting community who shares their passion & love for the shooting sports. We are the great diplomats of our age to those who have yet to discover the great joy & fun to be found in shooting. |
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An audio spectrometer isn't that expensive. It's the input devices that really limit your data due to noise. If you want good results, you're going to have to use a multitude of very precise, very EXPENSIVE microphones, all contained in an enclosure that will suppress ambient noise, and only capture what you want it to.
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John announced on his site today he is no longer going to do reviews, less the ones currently in progress (762-SDN6). I haven't been to his site in a very long time and can't remember my login info. The e-mail I used to create the account no longer exists. His site requires a user account simply to browse.
So... What did he give as his reason for stopping testing? Kind of suspicious timing given the verbal tirade towards SilencerCo and ensuing beatdown he received because of his arrogant attitude. Something else i missed. got any links |
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Any relatively inexpensive ways to do this? No. One can often find a used B&K 2209 or Larson-Davis 800B on e-bay for under $700, but either will need recertification and probably some repairs, which can almost double the cost. Then you have to look at a microphone element (1/4" pressure mic) which will run in the $750-1,200 range plus the adapter to a 1/2" preamp. "Often is not a word I would use in the same paragraph describing a search for a B&K 2209. "I spent months looking for a 2209 in working condition. The first one I found had issues and thankfully I discovered that before I bought it. If you don't know what to look out for or the proper questions to ask it is easy to end up with a very expensive sound meter that doesn't work properly. Then there is the microphone, the certification and the calibrator to pay for. The calibrator will cost near $1000. In the end I got a good meter and have confirmed it is accurate compared to a known meter. I have around $4000 invested into the thing now but it works and that is priceless. |
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Something else i missed. got any links I went looking for the thread just now for you. It appears to have been removed. That is very much too bad if that is the case because the thread did contain disagreements, some good discussion and useful information. However, it did NOT contain CoC violations. So, I don't understand why it would have been removed. Removing that type of discussion does a HUGE disservice to the community IMHO. 
Censorship. Yeah, it sucks.  And it serves to reduce the value of this otherwise great website.
Call me later and I'll give you the low-down. I'd post some of the details here, but if entire valuable threads are disappearing because someone got their feelings hurt I'd hate to get a smack down or cause this one to disappear too.
Mark |
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