Multimeter for the sound engineer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: bgsteiner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 12:27:51 am
content: So for school we all need to get multimeters for our general use and our classes in sound engineering. really we are looking for a general purpose electronics multimeter. The only specification are that it need to be able to read capacitance and read frequency from 20Hz to 20kHz minimum. I was looking at the fluke 115 but really I don't have much experience buying a multimeter. I have seen daves video but I'm still not really sure what company to look at and what line of products I should be looking into.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 12:35:33 am
content: Fluke is priced for industrial users and is not good value for educational use.Set your budget (~$100?) then look for models that have the features you need at that price point. Once you have a shortlist of two or three, do a search for reviews on those particular models and use those to help you make your choice.Probably you will end up looking at brands like Amprobe, Uni-T, Extech or Brymen.

author: bgsteiner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 12:38:49 am
content: Ok ill do some more research and see what I come up with and report back

author: bgsteiner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 01:11:20 am
content: Here is what I came up with and this is really after just what I was able to find on amazon1st place - Good quality but may have bad protection with higher voltageshttp://www.amazon.com/UNI-T-Digital-Ranging-Multimeters-Multitester/dp/B007THZMWI/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1409445522&sr=8-15&keywords=multimeter2nd Place - Little worse quality but a good meterhttp://www.amazon.com/Precision-2709B-Auto-Ranging-Multimeter-Millifarads/dp/B004O8Z89C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409445986&sr=8-1&keywords=bk+precision3rd Place - mehhttp://www.amazon.com/Extech-EX505-Industrial-MultiMeter-Waterproof/dp/B001AGO9SW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409446160&sr=8-1&keywords=Extech+EX505

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 01:24:35 am
content: The UNI-T is good value and often suggested. It's nice that it has high resolution and a computer logging interface.I wouldn't worry too much about the voltage protection for an electronics meter. If we assume you will occasionally do no more than measure the 120 V mains then the worst you can do is blow up a $50 meter (which is pretty unlikely to happen).

author: bgsteiner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 01:37:33 am
content: I'm thinking the UNI-T or the BK since its built a little better inside just a little lacking on ruggedness and it may have a dodge solder joint on the input jacks but I could fix that. Im sure it will work fine as long as we take care of the meter

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 02:49:59 am
content: Used Fluke 115s go for about $50 on ebay. Sometimes they are sold under the Lincoln Tech school brand.Obviously, YMMV and patience is required.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 06:02:51 am
content: Don't forget to look at this thread and get the spreadsheet to sort out your preferences and select a model.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/multimeter-spreadsheet/Personally I would stay away from Extech EX series. They have a less than stellar record for quality. The UT61E is a good buy for your use except no temperature.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2014, 08:11:29 am
content: The 61E would be fine, but has more drift than a drunken sailor, so don't expect very accurate readings.The 2709B has a modest TRMS bandwidth, no temperature display and lacks a bargraph.The EX505 doesn't have a good reputation, due to poor quality control.The UT-71B may suit your needs better in a classroom environment, with its data logging and strong suit of features. Continuity test is very slow though and input protection, minimal.

author: bgsteiner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 12:48:07 am
content: what do you all think of the amprobe am570

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 01:14:26 am
content: It is full featured, probably well built, but made more for an electrician's type of work. It has mediocre accuracy specs and from what I can see the update speed is not that fast, maybe 3 times a second. It also does not have anywhere the needed AC bandwidth for audio work.For your needs?

author: bgsteiner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 01:36:37 am
content: After looking I think I'm leaning towards a new on the Greenlee DM-210Ahttp://www.greenlee.com/products/DMM%2540c1KV-AC%2540FDC%2540cCAP%2540cTEMP(DM%2540d210A).html?product_id=17751it only seems to be lacking in the resistance having its low end at 600 ohms

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 01:37:09 am
content: For audio work, I would certainly look for a meter that has true RMS and a good dB function as well as a frequency counter.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 02:05:33 am
content: Quote from: bgsteiner on September 05, 2014, 01:36:37 amHmmm, not True-RMS, so really not well suited for audio work. Also, AC bandwidth too low again. These things are important for audio.Again for your needs:

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 02:32:58 am
content: I think that Wytmucls has it right. The best bang for the buck for audio work might be the UT71B. As he said, the continuity test is slow, and the update speed might be a bit slow, but it has all the other things you need and less than $120 online. If you can afford it, the Brymen BM859CFa would be a great meter, but closer to $270 shipped fromwww.tme.eu. Keep in mind that some people have had problems with TME and I personally would not recommend them at this point.If you really want to break the budget and get one multimeter and not worry about safety, accuracy, build quality, and will probably be a meter you can use for anything in the future:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM869-Digital-Multimeter-500-000-count-Dual-Temp-AC-DC-TRMS-PC-Logging-/171272486755?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27e0a2bf63and you can upgrade to data logging in the future with this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Interface-Kit-BU-86X-for-Brymen-BM520-BM820-BM860-series-Digital-Multimeter-/171027298387This is not a cheap option at all, but I am just showing what would be one of the ideals.If you need budget meter, around $100 to $120, then the Uni-Trend UT71B is hard to beat.