[to_be_released]

My supervisor has asked me to look for a an SPL meter for my speech research (and her research too). I am just about to embark on an internet search to see what I can find, but thought that some people here might have experience with SPL meters from a live sound perspective (or otherwise).

Are there any particular brands or models that you could recommend?

Money isn't too much of an issue, my lab has a budget line for this sort of thing.

[judd.]

I really can't help you there i have no experience with SPL meters, but i moved this to GD because it'll get more traffic from people who could possibly help you out with this sort of thing. Good Luck!

[surferdude9375]

It all really depends on what level of accuracy you are looking for.

The Radio Shack meters are pretty accurate (within about 5db) for the extremely low price. Again, not really sure what caliber of accuracy you are looking for.
Next step up in the meters would be something like a Galaxy Audio CM-130/140/150 which are pretty standard meters in terms of functions and reliability for live sound use.
From there you start jumping up into the worlds of the Phonic PAA3, PAA6 and moving into the worlds of calibration mics and RTA softwares.

[1/2-Fast Player]

For the purpose you describe, I think this might be a good choice:
SDL600 - Sound Level Meter/Datalogger
since it will allow you to store and download readings. It's several hundred dollars, but you said money isn't an issue.

The RatShack meters aren't the most accurate, but in my experience they are repeatable. If you have access to a higher quality meter, you could easily create a calibration table for the RS. But it's possible you don't really care about absolute accuracy, just changes from test to test.

Also, the high quality meters sometimes come with a calibration source that fits over the meter's mic input to give it a precise level so you can dial it in. (see 407744 - 94dB Sound Calibrator )

My old RatShack meter has an adjustment screw, so I suspect you could calibrate it if you have access to a precision sound source. I've never tried it, though, so if you do it I'd love to hear how it works out.

[to_be_released]

1/2-Fast: Yeah the extech meters look to be pretty good, and there are a couple of suppliers for them here in New Zealand which always helps. They're the current recommendation I'm giving to my supervisor.

The New Zealand equivilent to the radioshack one would be the one at Dick Smiths Electronics (only $130 NZD), but I'd prefer to get a higher level one than that.

As far as the accuracy is concerned, it's not such a big issue for this particular project, but the SPL meter would stick around in the lab for subsequent projects, so the more accurate the better. Getting down to below 40 dB in the measurement range is also a plus.

[1/2-Fast Player]

Sub 40dB is awfully quiet. For me, anything that quiet gets drowned out by The Voices anyway...

[to_be_released]

This is why my lab has a noise isolation booth for audio recordings.

If you want the voices to get even louder we also have an anechoic chamber. :P
They can get rather freaky.