Review on 🔊 VLIKE Noise Sound Level Meter - Digital Decibel Meter with LCD for Accurate Audio Measurement from 30 dB to 130 dB - DB Meter with A and C Frequency Weighting Ideal for Sound Level Testing by John Invert

I bought this meter because it seems to tick all the boxes for what I want to do: SPL Measure all my surround speakers to get an even output Apps, I figured this was a MUCH better option. The price wasn't bad (but not great either, other brands charge about the same). The meter itself looks good and has a removable windshield, which is a nice bonus. Unfortunately, this is where most of the benefits ended for me. The counter has an A and a C counter as well as a Fast/Slow setting. For home theaters, you should typically use a "C" meter and "Slow" (slow so noise is counted over a period of time, e.g. seconds so the meter doesn't jump back and forth all over the place). This allows you to have a clear reading. The first disappointment is that there is no tripod thread anywhere. It's not advertised anywhere so I can't fault them, but one of the photos even shows a counter set on a table by the bed. In fact, this thing doesn't stand on its own. It will not stand between the rubber molding and the rounded shape. The lack of any sort of tripod socket (bottom or rear) makes it a huge disappointment in this regard, as it means you either have to use it somewhat to "prop it up in between", or lay it horizontally (the measuring device directly at what you are measuring, leading to data corruption). Next mode C. It works! But it looks like the "Slow" button only affects the graphics (which are mostly useless) in C mode, not the actual digital numbers. It works great in 'A' mode, but in 'C' mode it still jumps from side to side, even in silence (this is important when trying to measure a specific DB rating with test tones). Someone else pointed out the same thing. It seems to work well in "A" mode, but it's not suitable for measuring home theater sound. Next up: lighting. This is a nice feature and should be really useful in the dark. The problem is that it only stays on for about 2 seconds before turning off. You have to hold it down to turn it back on (which affects the accuracy of the measurement since you're touching the button on the meter itself). Finally: calibration. The instructions say it needs to be calibrated from time to time, but gives no instructions on how to do this. It's called "calibrate". For more information, email us about this" which is a terrible way of doing business. This is usually done to hide a complex method that can be a hindrance to many people. If no, why not in record the instructions?