[LicensedTaximan]

Mods if i'm in the wrong section please move it I didn't quite know where this question should go.

Can anyone tell me the benefits of the above, I understand that an analogue one is better than a digital one for home audio (stereo) and home cinema but what are the gains and what do you do to get these gains, also what is A & C weighting?
One of the reasons I ask is that Amazon are selling one for just under £16, is this one good enough for the job? The link is below.

Silverline 633937 Sound Level Meter: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

[Mark.Yudkin]

An SPL meter is used to measure the sound pressure level, it's benefits are simply that doing it by ear is very rough - human hearing being an amazingly imprecise measurement device. [I rather expect that wasn't what you wanted to ask with "Can anyone tell me the benefits of the above"]

An SPL meter yields a single value for the sound it receives, regardless of the mix of frequencies of that signal. Weightings are frequency response functions: that is some frequencies are weighted more than others. A Weighting filters out low frequencies and slightly emphasizes frequencies around 2-3 kHz - it is generally used to to measure hearing risk and compliance with safety regulations. By comparison C Weighting is almost unweighted. For further details including the actual weighting functions, see A-weighting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Analogue and Digital SPL meters are equivalent, in the sense that quality (accuracy) differences are unrelated to whether it has an analogue or digital display. A digital display is easier to read though.

The Silverline 633937 SPL meter you reference will be fine although at +/- 2dB, it isn't the most accurate. The absence of the word "pressure" in the title on the Amazon page is of no consequence. Another source is Sound Level Meter, Noise Meter and Decibel Meters from Digital-Meters.com +44(0)1254 870300.

[William YZF-R1]

I personally would spend the few extra £ and get the popular one. One of the main benefits is that because it is the popular choice comparisons/assessment are easier for others and there are correction tables available.

7-Range Analog Sound Level Meter: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

I personally bought the digital version for convenience and intentionally have only really scratched the surface regarding its use, so its probably better if I leave someone else to tell you how much you can do with it in regard to properly calibrating your system.