Acoustic precision as your decisive competitive advantage.

Acoustic precision has become a decisive competitive advantage in the age of smart cities, electromobility and renewable energies. The quality of acoustic measurement data is crucial for approvals, product quality, occupational safety and innovation.

Our world is becoming quieter, yet more sensitive to noise.

So, can we reliably measure what we hear? What if acoustic measurement data is less about what we hear, and more about whether we can legally substantiate our data-based decisions in the event of any doubt?

Acoustic measurement technology is already indispensable in many forward-looking industries:

Wind Energy and Infrasound Debates

As renewable energies expand, the demand for transparent and objective noise measurement is growing. Operators require reliable data to comply with environmental regulations, support approval procedures and ensure social acceptance. Inaccurate measurements can jeopardize investment and trust.

Urban Noise Monitoring & Smart Cities

Modern cities rely on continuous noise monitoring to measurably improve quality of life. Traffic planning, noise protection programs and environmental reports are all based on validated data. Without precise measurements, many smart city initiatives remain purely theoretical.

Automotive NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) Testing

In vehicle construction, acoustics directly influence perceived quality. The sound of a closing door, a transmission or an electric motor's barely audible whirring all determine customer satisfaction. NVH tests require highly precise, reproducible measurement data.

Occupational Safety & Industry

Noise exposure limits protect employees from permanent hearing damage. Companies must measure and document in a manner that is auditable, compliant with standards and traceable.

Aerospace

Extreme acoustic loads in test environments require maximum data security. Early fault detection and robust component validation depend on accurate calibration.

Research and development

Progress begins with reproducible measurement results, whether it's new materials, sensor technology or innovative products. Without a valid reference, even the most modern sensors are meaningless.

Conclusion: Trust in measurement data is critical to business. This trust begins with calibration.

Calibrating acoustic measuring equipment ensures that the measured values:

• are traceable to national standards
• remain comparable across locations
• meet audit and certification requirements

Typical weaknesses of old systems are limited frequency range, lack of integration into digital data landscapes and low scalability. The results are fragmented processes, rising operating costs, and short-lived investments. Precision alone is no longer enough. Calibration solutions must keep pace with technological developments.

Modern laboratories require more than an isolated calibration system. They need a scalable, digital ecosystem.

SPEKTRA Schwingungstechnik und Akustik GmbH Dresden offers a solution that meets these requirements with CS Q-LEAP™, which is based on the modular HERO™ platform.

Developed for demanding acoustic measurement tasks

The system enables standard-compliant calibration of:

• ½“ and ¼” measuring microphones
• Sound level meters
• Sound level calibrators and pistonphones

The calibration frequency range, which extends from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, is suitable for a variety of applications, including environmental acoustics and NVH testing. It complies with key international standards such as IEC 61094-5, IEC 61672-3 and IEC 60942.

In combination with the SQ-6, the system uses pressure chamber calibration for microphones and sound level meters to minimize measurement uncertainty. This method creates stable and reproducible conditions, which are crucial for minimizing measurement uncertainty and maximizing reliability. The calibration system can automatically correct the free-field frequency response of the devices under test. For microphones, the corresponding corrections from the standards are considered. For sound level meters, correction values for the respective device type can be determined in the free-field chamber of the SPEKTRA laboratory during complex measurements and stored in the software.

Additionally, the system is traceable to the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (German National Metrology Institute), meeting the highest metrological standards.