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Play stands! No flags thrown! First down!

I know its different, just being silly.

I believe I mentioned all of this about submersed sound pressures earlier didn't I?
Anyway we're talking about car audio systems here so underwater measurements are a bit out of context.

The 194 limit is only referring to sea level, anywhere below sea level will have higher capabilities due to denser air. Underwater acoustics are a horse of a different color, underwater volcanoes sometimes get louder than 270db underwater.

Lol you do that William. Be sure to take a mic with you and post the results on here when you get finished. Im sure everyone will want to know those numbers.

When I'm rich, I'll buy a submarine and put some audio on it!

good stuff people. However, on earth, the SPL limit is considerably louder than 194. How you ask? simple. only 25% of the earth is exposed land. For years now, the Navy has been experimenting with submerged audio systems. capable of reaching well over 225dB 10 miles away. so there you have it. But that is loudest sound ever recorded. Just not recorded on land.

a lower number isn't always better or more accurate. It could just be a less sensitive mic. Just remember SPL is a relative scale, so it'll never be as objective for comparisons as say, quarter mile times or 0-60 acceleration times which are very specific units of measure.
SPL readings on an RTA are better used at a shop to see a base line reading then compare to changes to look for improvements. Once you've gotten all you can out of the system, then it's ready for events, to compete against others in the same environment, on the same measuring equipment.

These inconsistancies between mics, event locations, and so on are one of the reasons SPL competitions are no more objective than SQ events if you state you have a "172.2dB car" you can't really compare that to anything else unless both cars are side by side getting metered.. you may get different results a one event than you will at another.

Speaking of mics, anyone know how the Linear-X mic compares? A local shop owner has one here and he said it gives a lower number, which could mean that it is more accurate, but I don't know for sure.

At least now everyone seems to be using the same Termlabs mics for events, and they are fairly accurate from mic to mic in that regard, so this takes some of the discrepancy out of the comparisons from event to event.