Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
Originally Posted By: rockstar_not
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
I use an iPhone app to check exposure. My audiologist said to not exceed 80db avg at any time if I want to retain what’s left of my hearing.

There are several high rated accurate apps available. I also have it on my Apple Watch.

Bud


FYI. Unless you have a calibration procedure for your particular phone model and the response curve of the mics in your phone are known, the accuracy of these apps is nearly useless for protecting your hearing from further loss. Reference NIOSH reports from the 2014 NHCA conference for the pitfalls of trusting apps. You would be much farther ahead using an inexpensive SPL meter that has a known calibration. Parts Express and Amazon have some rather inexpensive ones that will be much more accurate than your phone app


Old data. Six years in tech world development is enormous - 2014 from a tech perspective is the ice age smile Some of the latest apps are used in a variety of professional applications. Simply search on decibel meters for IOS and include 2020 in the search.

Bud


Bud I am just seeing your reply. You have made an erroneous assumption that time somehow changes the need for calibration for accuracy. It does not. Now, if any of the apps you may be using ask for the model of phone you are using them there is a small hope that the app is using a general calibration file for the phone model’s microphone. If not then it is a crap shoot. Measuring SPL has been part of my profession for 30+ years. Needing to know the sensitivity of the microphone and a/d converter does not change with Moore’s law.

Without that information, the reading on the app is bogus.

I have several spl and spectral analysis apps on my phone but when I need to know the actual levels I use a measurement mic and it’s calibration file that is tied to its s/n. Not too expensive from parts express.
https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-iMM-6-iDevice-Calibrated-Microphone-390-810

I use it with the Studio Six suite of acoustics measurement apps.

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