Decibel Meter Sound Detector 4+

Don

I live in an apt that has other tenants below as well as on two sides of my apt. I use this app to set the the volume on my TV so I can use the loudest volume without being so loud it that any other tenant can hear my TV. Beats wearing a hearing aid for mild hearing loss and allows me to really enjoy my TV’s sound quality. Please share this with as many multi-family renters and/or hard of hearing persons. Biggest reason to do this is different TV shows require a volume adjustment that is different to get in the ‘sweet spot’ for listening—mid 60s decibels works well for me with my 55” LG TV placed 9 feet from me for a great view and sound.

Dangerously inaccurate

This app is dangerously inaccurate. It tops off around 92 db. Obviously metering higher than this is desirable is you are trying to determine if noise levels are dangerous. How do I know this? I placed this in front of my car and honked the horn at full blast. The max reading reads 92db. I then repeat the experiment with a dedicated decibel meter. It read 111db. This app could give people the idea that sounds are within a safe decibel range when in fact they are not. Do not use. Buy a dedicated decibel meter. Despite the language that this is limited by the microphones this is connected to in the description, it is completely irresponsible to create this, knowing full well that 95% of users are using this with solely with their iPhone and no attached mic. You are probably making people’s hearing worse by giving then a false sense of security. If you continued to have this app available - put LOUD AND CLEAR on the meter where it’s limitations are with a standard iPhone mic.

Developer Response ,

There was a microphone sensitivity issue that was addressed in version 2.8.3

Works for me!

I like this app. Easy to read interface and the readings are helpful. I like to measure the noise in loud restaurants and other public places. The readings seem accurate ( what, exactly is a decibel anyway?) and it really helps me understand environmental quality. Noise is a pollution and screaming loud places may be chic but are every bit as unhealthy as second hand smoke, etc… imagine having to work an 8 hour shift in a screaming loud place?! How can this be less damaging than a dirty factory or second hand smoke… environments matter and this app helps sort that all out. Noise is bad above certain levels….