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The app name is dB, dBA Noise Meter but what the developer doesn't tell us is that the app only reads Z-weighted decibels (dBZ) and not A-weighted decibels (dBA) in the free version. All the guidelines and standards say to measure noise levels in dB(A) as A-weighted decibels correspond to human hearing. So it's really misleading to the public who don't know any better. dB(Z) levels are typically 10 decibels or more higher than dB(A) so people are always getting the wrong readings, unless they purchase the A-weighted portion. No explanation is provided, it's truly a disservice to people who think they're getting a good reading of their noise environment. Remember, a 3 dB increase in level means double the energy that reaches the ear, so 10 dB at the ear is a huge difference. Developer should make this information available to the public. They benefit from their top ranking on the app store but forget they are spreading misinformation by not explaining to the public the difference between dBZ and dBA. I will gladly pay $10 for an app that provides readout in A-weighted decibels.

So last week I downloaded this to just check noise levels at a public function. Upon downloading it said I can try it for three days, after which it will charge me. So I say ok, I just need it for like 5 minutes, I’ll try it and go from there. It asks me for my Touch ID which usually happens before downloading apps. Next thing I know, they charged me 5.30$ for a monthly subscription! I immediately went on the app, canceled my ‘subscription’ and try to contact customer service, but no response and they’ve still charged me. It’s been 6 days, no response. How can one let this happen? What is this?

Provided the app is calibrated properly when you set it up, it’s pretty accurate in isolated areas like calibrating a turn table or checking a receiver for accuracy. However, a bunch of unrelated sounds events taking place at the same time throws the app off. Instead of giving you an average for the space you’re in, it just fluctuates based on individual sounds it picks up. For example, I value my hearing because I’m a musician. When I go to loud concerts I wear earplugs. At a recent Korn concert I wanted to decide if I was far enough away that I wouldn’t damage my hearing or leave the venue with ringing ears. I tried the app, but I got numbers from people talking behind me, the band, clapping, so I wasn’t able to get an accurate reading. The meter jumped from 50db to 80db at a Korn concert where I was about 100 feet from the stage. While it wasn’t hitting over 100db or heaven forbid 120db, I chose to wear earplugs and I was the only one in my group to not leave with ringing ears. In summary, the app is really great for isolated spaces, but it has trouble handling multiple sounds from multiple sources and giving you a stable number to work with. I don’t recommend it for harm reduction at a concert event, but I do recommend it for checking your speaker levels, calibrating your receiver, or anything audio related that is in a quiet testing area.