Table of Content
Independent Review: audioXpress Tests CRYSOUND Measurement Microphones and CRY3018 Calibrator
How do CRYSOUND measurement microphones and calibrators perform when independently tested against established reference equipment-and pushed beyond typical laboratory conditions?
In the September 2026 issue of audioXpress, technology consultant and long-time audio equipment designer Stuart Yaniger conducted a hands-on review of three CRYSOUND products:
- CRY3018 Intelligent Microphone Calibrator
- CRY3203-S01 1/2" Free-Field Measurement Microphone
- CRY3213 NVH 1/2" Measurement Microphone
The review covered calibration accuracy, frequency response, environmental stability, self-noise, ruggedness, and performance under harsh operating conditions.
Importantly, all products supplied for the review were not specially selected or pre-screened test samples. They were shipped directly from CRYSOUND's regular warehouse stock, just as standard production units would be supplied to customers.
This makes the results especially meaningful: the performance reported in the review reflects normal production samples rather than units specifically prepared for third-party evaluation.
Featured on the Cover of audioXpress
CRYSOUND measurement products were featured on the cover of the September 2026 issue of audioXpress, which also included Stuart Yaniger's hands-on review of the CRY3018, CRY3203-S01, and CRY3213 NVH.
Cover of the September 2026 issue of audioXpress featuring CRYSOUND measurement products.
View the September 2026 Issue on audioXpress →
CRY3018 vs. GRAS 42AB: Closely Matched Calibration Results
One of the most direct tests in the review compared the CRYSOUND CRY3018 microphone calibrator with a GRAS 42AB reference calibrator.
Using several measurement microphones, the reviewer compared the SPL readings produced by the two calibrators at 1 kHz and 114 dB SPL.
| Microphone / Configuration | GRAS 42AB | CRYSOUND CRY3018 | Difference |
| CRY3213 NVH - Standard Front Grid / Adapter | 114.50 dB | 114.54 dB | 0.04 dB |
| CRY3213 NVH - Measurement Front Grid | 114.45 dB | 114.45 dB | 0.00 dB |
| CRY3203-S01 | 113.86 dB | 113.82 dB | 0.04 dB |
| GRAS 246AE | 114.38 dB | 114.38 dB | 0.00 dB |
Across the four reported measurements, the difference between the two calibrators ranged from only 0.00 to 0.04 dB.
The review noted that there was effectively no meaningful difference between the readings, with results consistent to the second decimal place-as expected from two properly calibrated units.
Stable Calibration Across Changing Environmental Conditions
The CRY3018 features built-in sensing for temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity, together with a feedback system designed to maintain a stable SPL despite changing environmental conditions.
To examine this capability, the reviewer first tested the calibrator at approximately 27°C, obtaining a reading of 114.40 dB SPL.
He then placed the CRY3018 in a freezer overnight, bringing the calibrator to approximately −15°C, while keeping the test microphone at room temperature.
The repeated measurement was 114.56 dB SPL-a difference of just 0.16 dB in this test.
For engineers performing microphone calibration outside tightly controlled laboratory environments, this environmental compensation can help simplify in-situ measurement workflows.
CRY3203-S01 and CRY3213 NVH: Flat Frequency Response
Stuart Yaniger also evaluated the frequency response of the CRY3203-S01 and CRY3213 NVH, using a GRAS 246AE as the reference microphone.
Both microphones showed a flat and consistent response across most of the measured frequency range.
The largest reported deviation from flatness was approximately 0.5 dB near 15 kHz for both microphones. The measured results also closely corresponded with the individual free-field calibration curves supplied with the products.
Because the two microphones were taken directly from regular warehouse stock rather than being specially selected for the review, these results are particularly representative of standard production performance.
CRY3213 NVH: Built for Demanding Measurement Environments
The CRY3213 NVH is a ruggedized measurement microphone designed specifically for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) testing, particularly for vehicle and automotive component measurement.
The review highlighted several design features intended for demanding environments:
- IP67-rated protection
- Titanium-alloy diaphragm
- Synthetic sapphire spacers
- Resistance to conducted and radiated electromagnetic interference
- TEDS support
- Illuminated status indication for quick visual verification in multi-microphone setups
The CRY3213 NVH is rated to IP67. In the review, the reviewer explains that this means protection against dust and particulate ingress, resistance to road spray and rain, and the ability to withstand immersion in water to a depth of one meter for at least 30 minutes under the relevant test conditions.
Both the CRY3213 NVH and CRY3203-S01 use titanium-alloy diaphragms, while synthetic sapphire is used in the diaphragm and back-plate spacer structure to support environmental stability.
The CRY3213 NVH also incorporates an LED band that illuminates when the constant-current interface is active. In multi-microphone arrays, this provides a quick visual check that each microphone is powered and operating.
But the review did not stop at checking the specifications.
The reviewer then took the evaluation a step further with a much less conventional stress test.
A Rather Nasty Use Test: The Air Fryer
To create an environment combining heat, strong airflow, confined mechanical noise, and high sound pressure levels, the reviewer placed the CRY3213 NVH inside an air fryer.
The air fryer was set to 250°F, and the microphone remained inside during a 10-minute operating cycle.
During the test, the microphone recorded approximately:
- 98 dB SPL during preheating
- 104 dB SPL during the cooking cycle
The microphone remained stable throughout the measurement.
Immediately afterward-while the microphone was still too hot to comfortably handle with bare hands-the reviewer checked its sensitivity again using the CRY3018.
The result was 94.3 dB SPL.
After the microphone cooled back to room temperature, it measured 94.4 dB SPL, showing no meaningful change in sensitivity following the test.
While an air fryer is certainly not a standard NVH test environment, the experiment provides a memorable demonstration of how a rugged industrial measurement microphone can perform under significant thermal and acoustic stress.
Independent Validation Beyond the Datasheet
A datasheet tells engineers what an instrument is designed to do.
An independent test shows what happens when someone outside the company actually puts it on the bench.
After completing the evaluation, Stuart Yaniger described the CRYSOUND microphones and calibrator as "serious products, superbly built, rugged" and considered them competitive with products from long-established measurement brands.
His experience with the CRY3213 NVH was summed up particularly clearly:
"I tortured it and it held up effortlessly."
For CRYSOUND, the review provides independent validation of four core product priorities: measurement accuracy, stable performance, rugged construction, and practical engineering for real-world test environments.
The fact that all products were shipped directly from regular warehouse stock, without special sample selection or pre-screening, makes the results even more representative of standard production quality.
Products Featured in the Review
CRY3018 Intelligent Microphone Calibrator
The CRY3018 supports 250 Hz and 1 kHz calibration frequencies, 94 dB and 114 dB SPL, environmental sensing, and automatic feedback compensation. With the supplied adapters, it supports 1/4", 1/2", and 1" microphones.
Learn More:
https://www.crysound.com/product/cry3018-sound-calibrator
CRY3203-S01 1/2" Free-Field Measurement Microphone
A high-precision free-field measurement microphone for general acoustic measurement and engineering applications.
Learn More:
https://www.crysound.com/product/cry3203-s01-free-field-microphone-set-1-2-50mv-pa
CRY3213 NVH Measurement Microphone
A rugged IP67 measurement microphone designed for automotive NVH and other demanding industrial measurement environments.
Learn More:
https://www.crysound.com/product/cry3213-nvh-measurement-microphone
Read the Original Review
The full hands-on review was published in the September 2026 issue of audioXpress:
Stuart Yaniger, "CRYSOUND Microphone Calibrator and New Measurement Microphones," audioXpress, September 2026.
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