PCB Piezotronics—a global supplier of microphones, vibration, pressure, force, and torque sensors—announces that it has received the published results of a competitive side-by-side test of 1/2 inch (XX millimeter) free-field prepolarized condenser microphones from PCB, B&K, G.R.A.S., and BSWA. The test was performed by SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, an internationally accredited test house. This instrumentation is used for test, measurement, monitoring, and control requirements in automotive, aerospace, industrial, R&D, military, educational, commercial, OEM applications, and more.
LEADING EDGE COMPETENCE AND TECHNICAL REACH
The SP Group is a Swedish National Laboratory that consists of the parent company and subsidiaries CBI, Glafo, SIK, SMP, YKI, and JTI. Together, they create a powerful group of research and development institutes aimed at innovation and sustainable development of industry and society. The group’s laboratory resources are nationally and internationally competitive. With a staff of over 1100, of whom half are graduates and about 290 are research scientists, the group’s personnel constitute an important knowledge resource. National Laboratories are designated by the Swedish Government according to the ACT (2011:791) and Decree (2011:811) concerning testing and metrology. SP operates under ISO 17025, supervised by SWEDAC.
“SP is a government owned research institute that performed extensive performance and environmental testing on microphones from the industry’s leading providers,” says David Rizzo, director of sales and marketing for acoustics. “The results confirmed what we have always known about PCB’s microphone quality and performance so we are excited to share this with the market.”
TESTING PARAMETERS
The ½ inch (12.7 millimeter) free-field microphone was chosen because it is the most popular model and size for test and measurement applications. The tests compared PCB’s 378B02 against its competitors over a number of critical areas to determine if the microphones met both the IEC standards and the vendor’s published specification. The areas tested included:
- Sensitivity
- Temperature Coefficient
- Dynamic Range
- Humidity Coefficient
- Frequency Response
- Low Frequency Limit
“In the past few months we have taken several steps to position ourselves for rapid growth in the acoustic test and measurement space including the formation of a dedicated microphone team, introduction of new products, aggressive pricing and now third party test data validating our product’s quality and performance,” says Rizzo. “Combine these with our best-in-class delivery and support and we feel there is no reason why PCB should be anything other than the microphone vendor of choice.”
The report can be viewed or downloaded from PCB’s website. The 378B02 is a complete system (microphone and preamplifier), which is ideally suited for product testing in anechoic chambers or environmental testing.
LISTENING TO CUSTOMERS
The SP Group test results are in line with PCB Piezotronics’ commitment to providing its customers with reliable instrumentation that meets or exceeds the industry standard for microphones, vibration, pressure, force, torque, load, and strain sensors. In addition to being the pioneer of ICP® technology, PCB boasts a customer support team of more than thirty customer service representatives and application engineers, including a twenty-four-hour SensorLine, a global distribution network, and the industry’s only commitment to Total Customer Satisfaction.
A HISTORY OF SUCCESS
PCB provides precision microphones and accessories for a wide range of acoustic test and measurement applications. Leveraging state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, a dedicated team of acoustic, mechanical and electrical engineers, including several PhDs, have built an extensive portfolio of products including modern prepolarized and traditional externally polarized condenser, array, probe, low-profile surface, and special purpose microphones.
PCB’s Acoustic Team participates in both the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and IEC Standards Board and is a Vendor Liaison to Penn State’s Center for Acoustics and Vibration. PCB is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). ■
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tito Rodriguez is the director of corporate marketing for PCB Piezotronics and can be reached at 716.684.0002, trodriguez@pcb.com, or media@pcb.com. For more information, visit www.pcb.com/comparemics.
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MODERN PUMPING TODAY, September 2013
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