SPL vs Spectrum Analyzer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SPL
This professional-grade digital sound level meter measures decibels with advanced modes and filters meeting ANSI Type 1 standards. It allows storing, exporting, and calibrating measurements, and can be used with external calibrated microphones for precise results.
- Professional-grade digital sound level meter
- ANSI/IEC Type 1 standards compliant filters and modes
- Store, recall, and export GPS/time-stamped results
- Supports external calibrated microphones
- Adjustable calibration for accuracy
- Internal mic compensation filter
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SPL is a professional-grade digital sound level meter (decibel meter) for your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. It includes all of the modes, filters, and features that you would expect from a professional ANSI or IEC Sound Level Meter. All filters and averaging modes meet or exceed the criteria for ANSI Type 1 standards or better. SPL is created from the same team who brought you the Audio Toolbox and ATB Plus. Store Results -- Uses the same powerful Save / Recall engine as our premier app, AudioTools. Allows storing GPS and time-stamped results, and exporting them to your computer. You can also use SPL with our calibrated iPhone measurement mic, iTestMic, or iAudioInterface. The screen flips if you turn the phone upside down, so that you can point the built-in iPhone mic directly at the sound source. *** Modes: Slow, Fast, Impulse, Peak, and Leq. *** Filters: A and C weighting, and 10 octave band filters. *** Includes a resettable Max field to track the highest reading. *** Includes a reference field (except in Leq mode) so that you can set a reference level and do seat-to-seat comparisons. The SPL meter can be fully calibrated. It comes preset with the calibration for a typical iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Most iOS devices will be within a few dB of this reading. If you have access, even temporarily, to a calibrated sound level meter, just use the calibration field on the settings scree to match the meter, and you will be accurately calibrated. Also, see our other professional-grade audio apps: AudioTools, our premier suite of professional-caliber audio and acoustics test apps, Speaker Pop, to test speaker polarity, and RTA, a real-time analyzer for the iPhone. And, we have a group of calibrated, accurate measurement microphones, including iTestMic,iTestMic2, and iAudioInterface2, that allows full professional results for Type 1 or Type 2 measurements. This will allow measuring a range from approximately 30 dB SPL to 130 dB SPL. Each mic will include a calibration factor that you will enter into the SPL app for calibrated measurements. This mic will also work with Speaker Pop, our speaker polarity tester, FFT, RTA, ETC, and other acoustical measurement apps in our AudioTools app that is available now. Also, see our iAudioInterface2 system, which supports any pro test and measurement mic. Now includes an iPhone internal mic compensation filter, to cancel out the low-frequency roll-off present in the iPhone and other iOS devices. See our other audio apps, including AudioTools.
Spectrum Analyzer
Visualize audio frequencies with real-time analysis. Features include a sound level meter, multichannel harmonic analysis, and adjustable graphical representations. Gain insights into your sound environment with advanced tools.
- Sound level meter
- Multichannel harmonic analysis
- Adjustable graphics
- AI-powered sound source analyzer
- Real-time analysis
- FFT analysis
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Spectrum Analyzer is a pro audio tool with sound level meter, multichannel harmonic analysis and detailed graphical representation. Learn something new about your sound environment with real-time analysis! FEATURES: - sound level meter; - harmonic analyzer; - adjustable graphics; - AI-powered sound source analyzer. SOUND LEVEL METER - precise measurement of sound and noise level - real-time results HARMONIC ANALYZER - multichannel FFT analysis; - adjustable parameters; - graphical representation. ADJUSTABLE GRAPHICS - various graphics and diagram types; - zoom of selected chart areas. This app offers subscriptions. The paid version includes AI noise detection, immersive 3D visualization, and customizable settings. The free version offers dB/Hz measurement, 2D mode, and limited visualization options. Privacy Policy: https://musicbreath.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://musicbreath.com/tos
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: SPL at 68% against Spectrum Analyzer's 5%. SPL also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). Spectrum Analyzer's advantage is price (Free vs $8.99) and rating (4.2 vs 3.0). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Spectrum Analyzer is free to download; SPL costs $8.99 up front. Spectrum Analyzer sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. SPL asks for nothing beyond the download.
Spectrum Analyzer holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectrum Analyzer has 197 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of SPL's written reviews are positive against 5% of Spectrum Analyzer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SPL ships an update every 6 months, Spectrum Analyzer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SPL | Spectrum Analyzer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.0 (4 ratings) | 4.2 (197 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 67.6% of reviews — better | 5.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 197 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 132 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrew Smith | Music Breath |
Customer experience
SPL
Spectrum Analyzer
Bugs and requests
SPL
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Spectrum Analyzer
Reported bugs
10 issues- App becomes unusable after iOS 16 update
- Crashes immediately on iPhone 5 with iOS 7
- Cannot exit app on iPhone X without reboot
- App freezes when changing settings or views
- Inaccurate frequency readings
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- Slow and unresponsive performance
- App hijacks device sound settings
- Accidental in-app purchases triggered by home button
- Subscription charges without clear user consent
- App locks users into year-long subscriptions with no cancellation option
Requested features
7 requests- Audio file import functionality
- Customizable background colors for chroma key compatibility
- Ability to record audio instead of only analyzing
- Better documentation and help files
- Improved sensitivity for detecting soft sounds
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- Dark mode option
- Upfront pricing disclosure before download
In-app purchases
SPL
No in-app purchases
Spectrum Analyzer
- Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Pitch Finder: Audio Visualizer3 Days trial$9.991 Month
- One Month Sale$9.991 Month
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- 1 Week Subscription3 Days trial$9.997 Days
- 1 Year Sub. with discount$19.991 Year
- 1 Month Subscription$19.991 Month
- 3 Month Subscription$25.993 Months
- 1 Year Subscription3 Days trial$39.991 Year
- 2 months subscription3 Days trial$39.992 Months
- No Ads$9.99
- Additional Settings Controls$15.99
- Full Pack + No Ads$19.99
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- Get More$19.99
Questions
Is SPL free?
Is Spectrum Analyzer free?
Which has better reviews, SPL or Spectrum Analyzer?
Do SPL or Spectrum Analyzer have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPL or Spectrum Analyzer?
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