What are the Best Smartphone Decibel Meter Apps to Measure Noise Levels?

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Whether you are out at a concert, a restaurant, in a sports arena, or any other environment where the noise exceeds safe levels for your hearing, you can now use a smartphone app to measure the noises in your environment.  

Here are some of the best rated decibel meter apps:

Apps for Android and iOS

Decibel X

This free app transforms your smartphone into a pre-measured, precise, and conveniently portable sound level meter. It’s standard measurement ranges between 30 to 130 dB. It has several features that can measure the intensity of surrounding noises.

SPL Meter

This professional-grade sound level meter is measured following a traditional sound press level (SPL) meter. This includes ballistics, ranges, filters and decay rates. The microphone on your device is used to identify the sound and change it into an SPL value. The app comes pre-measured for most smartphone devices, but can be modified to match professionally measured meters. This app can be shared on all devices. A color-coded display shows safe (green) and dangerous (red) levels of hearing.  

Too Noisy Pro

This simple-to-use app is built to measure noise levels in settings that have groups of children. Teachers are able to use the Too Noisy app to monitor sound levels inside classrooms and manage the level of noise.  The network is clear and created so that children will respond to it. The graphics that show noise levels in an entertaining and engaging manner. Teachers and childcare supervisors can adjust the app for louder activities and abrupt noises with sensitivity and diminishing sliders.  

Apps Only for Android Use

Sound Meter Pro

This app will use the microphone on your smartphone to identify sounds, display them in decibels, and show the last 30 seconds of data in a simple graph. Since microphones in Android devices are used for recording human voices, the highest levels on this app are restricted and noises that are over 100dB cannot be recognized.

Noise Detector and Sound Meter

Like many sound meter apps, this meter app will use the microphone on your smartphone to measure the noises in your surroundings. The decibel level is visible on a dial that is simple to read. There is a history function that specifies how long you’ve been exposed to noises along with a noise reference, for example a quiet library or a noisy street.

Apps Only for iOS Use 

NIOSH Sound Level Meter

This app, which is used exclusively with the iPhone, was made for anyone who works in noisy environments. It can make employees more aware of the noise levels at their workplace, which can help them make the best choice when it comes to their hearing health. They can choose which hearing protection would be suitable for their line of work.

Researchers may also use this app to gather data in regards to noise exposure.

SPLnFFT Noise Meter

This app was created by an expert in signal processing. It has cutting-edge features for the iOS devices which include:
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• Frequency analyzer
• Frequency meter
• Test signal generator and dosimeter

The interface displays levels of exposure by using colors - orange or red - to signify dangerous levels where hearing protection would be needed. This app has been recommended by the Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America.

Preserve Your Hearing Health

Noise-induced hearing loss could become permanent, but it is usually preventable. You can protect your hearing from unsafe noise levels by wearing earplugs or industrial earmuffs if the noise levels are over 85 decibels.

If you, or a loved one, have already been exposed to dangerous noise levels and are experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus, or any other issues related to your hearing health, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free-hearing test and consultation from one of our hearing instrument specialists.

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