SPL Meter
Andrew Smith
SPL Meter measures environmental sound levels with a supported iPhone/iPad microphone setup.
What SPL Meter does
SPL Meter presents sound-level readings in an interface modeled on an analogue meter, with A/C weighting and fast/slow response choices. Its standalone listing documents user calibration and external measurement-microphone support. Its controls include the weighting and response settings used to display a live sound-level reading.
How it compares
A live meter rather than saved-measurement and analysis tools
SPL Meter emphasizes live readings with selectable weighting and response modes. SPL offers saved measurements and computer export, while SPLnFFT adds frequency analysis and a dosimeter.
Calibration and microphone controls, like other measurement apps
SPL Meter offers calibration and microphone-selection controls. As with SPL and NIOSH Sound Level Meter, the complete measurement setup matters when comparing readings.
Features
Hearing checks & protection
- Supported: Sound-level measurement
- Supported: Microphone calibration
- Supported: External measurement microphone
Privacy & data
- Supported: Data storage1Device · Personal cloud accountiPhone only
Research & evidence
- Supported: App-specific study2iPhone only
- Publisher-wide policy for saved app data; it does not establish that this standalone app exposes every AudioTools cloud/export feature.
- Historical comparative measurement study (Serpanos et al., 2018, DOI 10.1044/2018_AJSLP-17-0171): SPL Meter v9.3 on one iPhone 6S A1688/iOS 9.3.4, with/without calibration, 20–100 dB narrowband/white-noise stimuli and eight room environments. Not a current-version or all-phone validation.
App Store ratings & reviews
Praise
- Many historical reviewers value an inexpensive, portable meter for quick sound-system or relative-level checks. These are individual use cases, not evidence of clinical suitability or certified measurements.
Mixed reports
- Comments differ about agreement with reference meters and often emphasize calibration, microphone limits or bass response. Some 2022 users report inconsistent readings; older positive comparisons do not establish present-device accuracy.
- Older reports describe small/blurry controls, rotation or iPad scaling problems and request a clearer readout. Some later comments report specific fixes, including iPhone 6S Plus support in November 2015; these concern historical versions.