Comparison

PAcalculate vs SoundMeter X

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PAcalculate

This app provides 28 calculators and reference information for professional audio sound reinforcement and lighting. It covers acoustics, audio electronics, cabling, and lighting calculations, making it a valuable tool for audio and lighting professionals.

Highlights
  • 28 calculators for pro-audio and lighting
  • Acoustics calculations (SPL, air absorption)
  • Audio electronics calculations (dBu/dBV, Q/B/W)
  • Cabling calculations (speaker cable loss)
  • Lighting calculations (DMX, RGB/CMY)
  • Reference info (pinouts, graphs)
Features
Read full description

28 calculators (47 calculations) for pro-audio sound reinforcement and lighting, as well as reference info and utilities. A super handy tool for people dealing with PA, sound reinforcement, sound systems, electro-acoustics, pro-audio and lighting Acoustics - SPL (sound pressure level) - SPL sum with phase, distance or time difference - Air absorption attenuation for a given humidity, temperature, frequency and distance - Ceiling speaker coverage - Time «» Distance - Audio frequency «» Wavelength (includes lambda/2 and 2*lambda/3 for line arrays or subwoofer arrays) - Transition distance for line arrays (near to far field) - End-fire and broadside array subwoofer modelling Audio electronics - dBu «» dBV «» Volts - Q «» B/W (bandwidth) - Limiter threshold, attack&releases times - Amplifier gain Cabling - Speaker cable: low impedance, high impedance (constant voltage line, 70V/100V). Calculates energy and level loss, system damping factor Lights DMX channel, RGB/RGBW/RGBA and CMY Useful reference info such as pinouts (proaudio and lighting) and graphs Utilities: Inclinometer, Flashlight / light with selectable intermittence (uses camera permission) Latest news from DoctorProAudio.com

About

SoundMeter X

Transform your device into a professional sound level meter, noise dosimeter, and spectrum analyzer. Log data, calibrate sensitivity, and analyze audio with advanced features. Offers a free trial for premium functionalities.

Highlights
  • Handheld data-logging sound level meter
  • Data-logging noise dosimeter
  • Real-time octave spectrum analyzer
  • Multi-channel data recorder
  • Stereo signal generator
  • Sensitivity calibration
  • Data logging in CSV, TXT, MAT, and PDF
Features
Read full description

SoundMeter X turns your iPhone or iPad into a handheld data-logging sound level meter (SLM), data-logging noise dosimeter, stereo signal generator, multi-channel data recorder, and real-time whole or 1/3 octave band spectrum analyzer (subscription or perpetual license required for most features--14-day free trial available). Input signals can be acquired from any available audio input path. Sensitivity calibration can also be performed for any audio input device and/or input channel. Direct hardware support (automatic sensitivity calibration, based on factory-defined values) for The Modal Shop’s 2-channel 485B39 USB-ICP interface and miniDSP’s UMIK-1, UMIK-2, and EARS microphones. In addition to real-time sound level measurements, SoundMeter can stream raw sound data to audio files, and store acquired sound level data, including date, time, and location, in CSV or TXT (tab-delimited) files, MAT-files, or high-resolution PDF images for later retrieval from your device. SoundMeter may be downloaded for free from the App Store. Additional tools and features are offered via in-app purchase. The SoundMeter Pro subscription includes: - User-defined custom metadata in saved audio and data files - Level MeterLp, Leq, Lx sound levels -- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting -- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. -- Event notifications - Max Levels Meter -- Traffic-light-style meters make it easy to monitor 2 separate sound level thresholds in 2 independent user-defined frequency bands. -- Define lower (warning) and higher (limit) sound level thresholds for overall (full audio band) levels as well as for individual octave frequency bands. -- Store user-defined thresholds in files for later recall. - Noise Dosimeter -- 8-hour Noise Dose, Projected Dose, TWA calculations -- Criterion Levels: 80, 85, 90 dB -- Exchange Rates: 3, 4, 5 dB -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. - Real-time Octave Spectrum Analyzer (RTA) -- Lp, Leq, Lx sound levels -- Supports whole or 1/3-octave frequency bands -- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting -- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting -- NC, RNC, and NR references curves, NC, SIL, and NR values -- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks. - Multi-channel Data Recorder -- Supports up to 8 channels -- Live monitoring of recorded data -- Metadata (including calibrated sensitivity) embedded in audio file (AIF, CAF, WAV), optionally saved in separate data file - Stereo Signal Generator -- Left and right outputs assigned to arbitrary hardware output channels -- Random and pseudorandom (periodic) noise sequences with white or pink spectrum -- Linear and logarithmic frequency sweeps -- Dual periodic waveforms with arbitrary frequency and phase difference - MultiTool -- Powerful data monitoring and project management (Add 2-6 subtools, depending on screen size, and save configurations for easy recall at a later time.) The SignalScope X Pro Tool Set subscription can be shared between SoundMeter X and SignalScope X. It unlocks all tools and features of the SoundMeter Pro subscription in SoundMeter X and all tools and features of the Pro Tool Set subscription in SignalScope X (iCloud login required). Learn more about SoundMeter X at FaberAcoustical.com. Subscription Terms: - https://www.faberacoustical.com/apps/subscriptions/terms.html Privacy Policy: - https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/privacy.html Terms and Conditions for FaberAcoustical.com: https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/terms.html

Screenshots

PAcalculate4 screens
SoundMeter X4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PAcalculate at 100% against SoundMeter X's 23%. PAcalculate also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). SoundMeter X's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (45 vs 7). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SoundMeter X sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PAcalculate asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PAcalculate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SoundMeter X has 45 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of PAcalculate's written reviews are positive against 23% of SoundMeter X's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PAcalculate ships an update every 4 months, SoundMeter X every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
PAcalculate versus SoundMeter X: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPAcalculateSoundMeter X
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better3.6 (45 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better22.6% of reviews
Number of ratings745 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJose BrusiFaber Acoustical, LLC

Customer experience

PAcalculate

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SoundMeter X

All ratings45 ratings
Positive62.2%
Neutral8.9%
Negative28.9%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive22.6%
Neutral6.5%
Negative71.0%

In-app purchases

None

PAcalculate

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

SoundMeter X

Subscriptions4
  • SoundMeter Pro, 1 Month14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pro Tool Set, 1 Month14 Days trial$24.991 Month
  • SoundMeter Pro, 1 Year14 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Tool Set, 1 Year14 Days trial$249.991 Year
One-time3
  • 14-day Free Trial, SoundMeter ProFree
  • SoundMeter Pro 2026 Upgrade$29.99
  • SoundMeter Pro 2026$99.99

Questions

Is PAcalculate free?
PAcalculate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SoundMeter X free?
SoundMeter X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PAcalculate or SoundMeter X?
PAcalculate is rated higher. PAcalculate averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while SoundMeter X averages 3.6 from 45 ratings.
Do PAcalculate or SoundMeter X have ads?
Neither PAcalculate nor SoundMeter X shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PAcalculate or SoundMeter X?
PAcalculate ships an update every 4 months, and SoundMeter X every 3 weeks. Most recently, PAcalculate was updated on October 17, 2026 and SoundMeter X on October 27, 2026.

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