What is the best sound level meter for Android?
A sound level meter app is a software application designed for smartphones and mobile devices that measures ambient sound levels in decibels (dB). These apps use the built-in microphone on a phone or tablet to analyze surrounding noises and provide a sound pressure level reading.
Sound level meter apps have various use cases and benefits:
- Occupational noise monitoring – They can be used to measure noise exposure in workplace environments for occupational health and safety purposes.
- OSHA compliance – Employers can use them to conduct noise surveys and ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) noise regulations.
- Home use – Consumers can test sound levels at home to evaluate potential hearing damage risks.
- Research – Scientists can easily gather sound data for experiments and field work.
- Education – Teachers can demonstrate acoustics concepts to students in an accessible way.
Overall, these apps provide an affordable and convenient way to quantify noise levels in various real-world contexts.
Sound Basics
Sound is a pressure wave that travels through a medium like air. It is measured in hertz (Hz), which represents the frequency or cycles per second. The human ear can detect sounds roughly in the range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
The loudness of a sound is measured in decibels (dB). Decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, so a 10 dB increase represents a sound that is twice as loud. According to one source, 0 dB roughly corresponds to the threshold of human hearing, while 120-140 dB is the threshold of pain.
When measuring sound levels, A-weighting is often applied, resulting in measurements in dBA. This accounts for the fact that human hearing is less sensitive to very low and very high frequencies. Regulatory limits for noise exposure also use dBA, such as OSHA’s standard of 90 dBA for 8 hours per day.
Other key concepts include peak sound pressure level, which is the maximum sound level, and equivalent continuous sound level (Leq), which represents a constant sound over time that has the same energy as the fluctuating levels.
Meter Accuracy
The accuracy of sound level measurements from smartphone apps depends heavily on the quality of the built-in microphone. Smartphone microphones are designed for voice calls and recordings, not professional sound level measurements. They lack the precision calibration and standards compliance of dedicated sound level meters.
According to testing by PPSThane, many smartphone sound meter apps do not take microphone calibration into account, leading to inaccuracies of 2-3 decibels or more. This makes them unsuitable for any application requiring precise, standardized measurements such as occupational noise exposure monitoring. Apps that do calibrate the microphone can improve accuracy, but variation between individual phone microphones remains an issue (PPSThane).
For casual personal use, smartphone sound level meters can provide a good ballpark estimate. However, for professional use cases requiring precision, a dedicated IEC 61672 Class 1 or 2 certified sound level meter is recommended.
Ease of Use
A sound level meter app should have an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. The controls and settings should be clearly laid out so users can start measuring sounds right away. Data visualization is also key – the sound measurements should be displayed in easy-to-understand graphs, charts or numbers.
As the CDC notes in their article on smartphone sound measurement apps, “A good sound measurement app has an intuitive interface and displays the sound data clearly” (NIOSH Sound Level Meter App). Apps like Decibel X shine in this area by showing sound levels in different colored bars that are simple to comprehend (Decibel X).
Having an intuitive interface allows anyone to pick up the app and start measuring sound levels without much guidance. Clear visualizations of the data also enables users to quickly make sense of the sound levels in different environments. This ease of use and understanding is critical for an app that needs to provide accurate noise measurements across many everyday situations.
Data Features
A key consideration when selecting a sound level meter app is the data features it offers. The ability to log measurements over time, add annotations, and export data for further analysis separates the basic apps from the more advanced ones.
According to the CDC, the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app allows users to save measurement data, take notes, and email results. This makes it easy to document noise exposure over the course of a day or week. The app also lets users graphically compare readings to exposure limits.
The SoundPrint app mentioned in Healthy Hearing not only logs average and maximum decibel levels, but also tracks noise over time. Users can view noise graphs from the past 24 hours or longer periods. The app links these noise measurements to location data from the phone’s GPS.
For professional-grade, customizable data exports, the Too Noisy Pro iOS app is a top choice. As noted by Healthy Hearing, it can export CSV files with detailed metadata like timecodes, location, notes and photos. This exported data integrates with other analytics programs. Overall, advanced data features allow users to get the most insights from sound level measurements.
Top 5 Apps
Based on user reviews and ratings, the top 5 sound level meter apps for Android are:
1. Decibel X
Decibel X is currently the highest rated sound meter app on both the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store. It provides highly accurate measurements within 1 dB and has a range of 30 to 130 dB. Key features include setting custom alerts/alarms, collecting geo-tagged measurements, and data sharing.
Pros: Very accurate, intuitive interface, detailed graphs and reports
Cons: Limited measurements unless upgrading to paid “Pro” version
2. Sound Meter
Sound Meter is a popular free option on Android with over 10 million downloads. It can detect sounds up to 130 dB and has fast response times. The app displays sound waves and stores your measurement history.
Pros: Free, no ads, simple interface
Cons: Less accurate than paid options, lacks some reporting features
3. Decibel Pro
Decibel Pro provides professional-grade readings with calibration tools to maximize accuracy. It has full 1/3 octave band filtering capabilities for advanced acoustic analysis. Measurements can be saved, graphed and shared.
Pros: Wide range of analysis features, calibrated measurements
Cons: More expensive, complex interface
4. NIOSH SLM
Developed by the CDC, the NIOSH SLM app meets the accuracy requirements of health and safety standards. It measures levels down to 40 dB with Class/Type 2 precision. The app helps identify hazardous occupational noise.
Pros: Meets rigorous government standards, focused on health applications
Cons: Only available on iOS, limited features beyond sound measurement
5. NoiSee
NoiSee has a simple design but provides detailed sound frequency data. It measures between 30-130 dB with alerts and health risk indicators. The app lacks reporting capabilities but makes up for it with strong analytics.
Pros: Frequency analysis, health risk assessments
Cons: Basic interface, no graphing of measurements
Comparisons of Top Sound Level Meter Apps
When comparing the top sound level meter apps for Android, two that stand out are Sound Meter by Splendid Bytes and Decibel X by SkyPaw. Here is how they directly compare on some key factors:
Accuracy: Both apps use the built-in microphone on Android phones to measure sound levels. Studies have found Decibel X to be more accurate, with readings within 2 dB of a professional sound level meter [1]. Sound Meter has shown higher variance up to 4-6 dB.
Ease of Use: Decibel X provides a simpler, cleaner interface that is easier to read. Sound Meter has more options and settings that may appeal to power users but can be overwhelming for casual users.
Data Features: Both apps allow you to record sound levels over time and export data. Decibel X includes more advanced logging and reporting capabilities suited for professional use. Sound Meter focuses more on real-time sound monitoring.
Overall, Decibel X appears to be the most accurate and full-featured sound level meter app for Android, while Sound Meter offers a free alternative for casual everyday use.
Recommendation
After researching and comparing the top sound level meter apps for Android, I would recommend SoundMeter by Smart Tools Co as the best option currently available.
SoundMeter stands out for its high accuracy level of ±1.5 dB, making it comparable to professional hardware sound level meters. It has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, allowing you to start measuring sound levels within seconds of opening the app. The measurement data can be saved, exported, and shared in various formats, providing useful documentation of your readings.
Other key benefits of SoundMeter are its wide 30-130 dB measurement range, calibration tools, and spectral analysis features. It works well in both indoor and outdoor environments. The app continues running in the background, so you can minimize it while still recording measurements.
For these reasons, SoundMeter offers the best overall package and capabilities for most consumer and professional use cases. It balances accuracy, usability, and features better than other apps. If you need to measure sound levels on an Android device, SoundMeter should be your first choice.
Use Cases
There are many potential use cases for a sound level meter app on Android phones. Here are some examples:
Workplace Noise Monitoring – Using an app like the NIOSH Sound Level Meter, workers and safety managers can monitor noise exposure over time to protect hearing health. This is useful in construction, manufacturing, entertainment venues, and other noisy workplaces.
City Noise Mapping – Apps like Decibel X allow crowdsourced noise mapping by citizens concerned about sound pollution. This data helps urban planners identify and mitigate excessive environmental noise from traffic, trains, airports etc.
Home Inspection – When buying or renting a new home, a sound level meter app can identify potential noise issues from nearby roads, rail, aircraft, or neighbors. Test sound levels at different times to make an informed decision.
Concert Safety – Attendees at loud music venues can monitor sound exposure with an app to prevent permanent hearing damage. Refer to guidelines on safe noise limits over time.
Noise Complaints – Using an accurate app, residents can record decibel readings as evidence for nuisance noise complaints against loud neighbors, construction sites, businesses etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several key factors to consider when choosing the best sound level meter app for Android. Accuracy is critical – look for apps that use professional-grade microphones and algorithms to provide lab-calibrated precision. Ease of use is also important; the app should have an intuitive interface and useful features like data logging, calibration tools, and sound profiling. When comparing options, pay attention to the specific use cases and data capabilities. The best apps provide customizable settings, data sharing options, and noise exposure warnings. Overall, Decibel X Pro stands out as the top choice for Android, with its high accuracy, advanced settings, and comprehensive noise measurement toolkit. Just be sure to calibrate it properly with an external calibrator. While free apps can be useful, paid options like Decibel X provide more robust features focused on professional-grade noise detection and analysis. Whichever sound level meter you choose, be sure to use it properly and maintain regular calibrations for reliable, consistent results.