# SPL — user reviews > 34 indexed App Store user reviews of SPL by Andrew Smith, rated 3.00/5 from 4 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl/id293573990/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spl/id293573990.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 2 ## Newest reviews (11 of 34) ### 4/5 — Inaccurate after iOS 8 update *2014-09-27, version 3.9* Spl does not read correctly after updating to iOS 8 ### 4/5 — Great App, but small issue... *2011-03-17* I install professional audio and run sound at various events and I've been using this app for over a year with great success. The readings are very accurate and the app is easy to use. I'm glad this app came out because it is easy to check SPL on the fly without carrying a meter around with me everywhere I go. However, since the latest version came out, it has been crashing my phone every time I use it. It freezes, and my phone becomes completely unresponsive. I cannot even reboot. I would have gave it 5 stars except for this problem. Please fix this app because I use it almost weekly. Thanks. ### 4/5 — Needs an update *2010-09-20, version 0* This is a great application that does as advertised. We use it in a church setting to monitor levels for the congregation and work on mix levels. The application is not happy with iOS 4.1. Please update it. ### 4/5 — Professional *2009-02-01, version 0* Very nice!! Just one request off the top though... Please add an option to stop the screen time-out... That would be great, thanks! ### 5/5 — Number one app! *2009-01-15, version 0* What an amazing app for the iPhone. I Set up my new surround sound system with this spl and it worked a treat. Absolute bargain! ### 5/5 — Context *2009-01-13* I wish people would write reviews within the context of the App. This is an SPL meter that works on you phone. IE a reference tool when you're caught without your pro gear. And as such it works very well. Also, there's a reason for a 105 db threshold on your iPhone. Someone is holding a phone to their ear as you transmit a +db signal. Granted I'm sure no phone manufacturer would knowingly create a reciever that would reach beyond pain and damage thresholds. C'mon people think! ### 5/5 — Owner *2009-01-12* I agree with review 4 very nice software you have your phone with you all the time but not your audio tool box or ivie or other professional tools But you do have your phone John ### 5/5 — Very nice *2009-01-10, version 0* Clean, simple and handy. Glad I bought it! ### 5/5 — Great app *2009-01-06, version 0* Best iPhone db meter I've seen. ### 5/5 — Pretty sweet app *2009-01-04* I'm not sure if I'm using it rite or if it's accurate but it's fun to mess with and I was wondering what's the max reading on this thing everything I've tried it on came to 107.6db can it go higher?? ### 4/5 — A Sound app *2008-12-21, version 0* This is a great little app. The display isn't quite as nice as Decible but all the info is clearly displayed. It has the option for a weighted reading and also does LEQ. Limited to 105dbs though. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Apps color scheme is unreadable *2025-12-06* The color scheme/UI is gray all over even after resetting all settings and relaunching the app. There is no control in settings to change this. The app does not look like the screenshots. ### 1/5 — Amazing *2017-10-08* Oh no! A disastrous update!!! They finally took the horrible, battery-draining background operation so-call "feature" out of RTA, but they put it into SPL. Now, when you exit this app in the conventional way, it keeps running and draining your battery!!! Why they think this is a good idea or should be the default operation is just beyond me. Please, please, make this behavior optional and default it to operate in the way that most iPhone apps do, to exit the app when you press the home button. ------ original review ------- I have recently had the opportunity to compare with a very calibrated instrument and was very favorably impressed. This thing works very well. I also checked my Radio Shack meter at the same time and it's good right around 1KHz which is where -- if you read its instructions -- it is calibrated. The Radio Shack SPL meter, by the way, while a bargain for the price and quite good for what it is, is not a good tool for tuning subwoofers at all. This iPhone ap, while better, still isn't the best for subs either with the built-in mic, but worked much better with an external. Also, this ap's A-weight filter is better than Radio Shack's. In conclusion, this ap is a bargain for the price and so handy to have with you. A+. My one suggested improvement: a logging mode which logs SPL at selectable intervals -- minutes and seconds -- and then can e-mail the log out in csv format with time and SPL reading. ### 1/5 — UI elements do not scale correctly on iPad *2014-03-28* I've found that UI elements do not scale correctly on iPad such as "74.5" would show up as "74..." for the peak dB value. This makes it unusable on iPad. **Developer response:** Hi Please update to the latest version to correct this issue. --Andrew ### 1/5 — IPhone froze up *2010-12-06, version 0* Does not work on the iPhone 4 (running is 4.2). It locked up and froze the phone and would not even power off! After 5 min. trying, the phone shut off.... But would not come back on! After another 5 min. my phone finally came back on, and I deleted the app. I would like my money back. ### 1/5 — Does not have the accuracy of professional SPL for tuning home theater systems *2008-12-19* I compared it to a SPL from Radioshack and it does not even come close to being accurate. Specifically for tuning subwoofers it is off by 25db. ### 2/5 — Horrible color scheme *2013-11-24* I have loved this app previously. In fact, I would have always given this app five stars until this version. I have been using this app for years now and I have always used the 'dark metal' color scheme. Now the only option is white. The white color option is TERRIBLE!!!!! As a foh guy, I use this app a lot. But I think I will be looking for another app because the white color scheme adds extra light to foh and the white is extremely harsh on the eyes. If you have not updated to the newest version, don't. It's not worth it. ### 2/5 — SPL *2013-05-04* Big battery drain ### 2/5 — Ugh! *2009-01-07* The new appearance hurts my eyes. Please let me downgrade! ### 3/5 — SPL App hangs when iPhone rings, otherwise cool *2011-03-18, version 2.5* I emailed Mr. Smith and got an instant reply (gee I luv that). Did as he suggested, deleted and redownloaded and installed the SPL APP. Still same issue. I did some testing and if my iPhone (mine is a 3GS iOS4.3) rings, the SPL app dB readings get hung and all you can do is reboot the phone to get SPL working again. Since I have provided a repeatable senerio to aggevate this bug I have not heard back from Mr. Smith. All I can hope is he is working on it. Seems thousands (he claims) are not having trouble. Do they get calls when using it? Are they on iOS4.3?? The App says tested with iOS4.2. Otherwise, the app is nice to use and will help me in my job of measuring paging volumes over industrial noise levels. In the end, I can't give it 5 stars with a repeatable bug that hangs the SPL App and no email reply that says I'm working on it and BTW thanks for the info. So was my support issue of 1 in a 1000+ treated as junk or is it being looked at? There has to be a first I figure and not everyone will call for support, so there are likely more than just me. At $8.99 (higher than average cost) I'd expect proffesional support (don't feel the comment that I'm the only one and no email back is a professional support). All I can hope for is a patched version shortly. ### 3/5 — EXCELLENT! *2011-01-09, version 2.5* I've only recently discovered that there are some brilliant and serious use applications on the Apple iTunes store which never get publicity in the favourites or hot lists. This is one of them. Really useful and from a company who seem to know their subject. UPDATE Since the last update to IOS4 this application now crashes far too frequently - freezes on opening then causes entire iPhone to crash. Pity, used to be excellent...... ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Accurate and Easy to use *2018-04-12* Once calibrated correctly this SPL meter is easy to use and accurate, worth every dollar! ### 5/5 — Excellent *2016-11-14, version 4.9* I tried a few similar apps before trying this one, and found it the best so far. Many options, and accurate settings. ### 5/5 — Enthusiastically recommended *2014-11-09* After accidentally losing the calibration of my subwoofer, I discovered that my trusty Radio Shack SPL meter was no longer accurate with sub-100-Hz test tones. I bought SPL and found it agreed stably within 1 dB of my main channel measurements using the old hardware and wideband pink noise. This is more than enough to validate it as a replacement for the RS meter, while it is a lot more cost-effective -- I spent the same amount today on a 9-V battery for the meter as the app cost! ### 5/5 — Crash at 66.6db *2012-12-27* Like the title says this app apparently likes heavy metal or satan or both. It has crashed several times frozen on 66.6db. \m/ ### 5/5 — It Works *2010-06-03* Perfectly ### 5/5 — Love it! *2010-05-01, version 0* Great meter. Love that it flips around. This thing rocks!!!! ### 5/5 — 良いですね！ *2009-06-27* 騒音計アプリを色々探したのですが、これは値段の割にかなり本格的な積分型騒音計ですね。 動特性はFast,Slow,Imp,Leq、重み付けはFlat,A,C,そしてオクターブバンドもあります。さらに測定値（測定値、日付時間、測定条件など）を記録するメモリーが9つあり、自分で説明も加えることが出来るようです。 画面のデザインには3種類あるのですが、"Plain"のみバグがあり、SlowとFastのボタンのラベルが逆になっています。すでに報告済なのですぐ修正されると思いますが... 肝心の特性については、当然正確な騒音計でのキャリブレーションが必要ですので、騒音計を持っていることが使用の条件になりますが、割と正確な数値を表示しているという印象です。あくまで感覚ですが、誤差は2dB程ではないでしょうか。 さらに、レンジ切替の必要がないため使い勝手が良いですね。欲を言えばデザインをもっと洗練して欲しいですが、これで騒音計を持ち歩かずに測定が出来るのでうれしいです。 ### 5/5 — An excellent tool! *2009-03-30* My only wish: I'd love to have the analog-style UI from their $.99 younger brother SPL Meter. ### 5/5 — Best db meter on for iPhone. *2009-03-28* Best db meter on for iPhone. I've downloaded and used them all. This one is easy to use, has the most parameter settings, and the ability to record peaks. It is however, strictly a db meter. Some other meters show frequency and plots of readings over time. These would be nice features to see added. Ther one feature I think is clearly missing is the ability to utilize the capabilities of the iPhone to actually transmit the captured data. If this were coupled by the ability to record real time readings this would be an awesome application. Having spectral analysis, and perhaps capture, would make it perfect. ### 5/5 — extremely useful *2009-02-14* It's amazing that anyone gives this application anything less than a stellar review. It does what it's supposed to do, does it well and reasonably accurately. It is preposterously inexpensive. And it's always here, on my phone, ready to use whenever I need it. I do wish that the reviews were flagged and votes not counted when people simply can't figure out how to use it or don't like the way it looks. It renders the "5 star" voting approach meaningless for those of us who are looking for tools that work. It's a tool, not a toy or a game. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-09.*