Comparison

Spectrum Compact Simulator vs Sound Spectrum Analysis

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

Head to head
About

Spectrum Compact Simulator

Explore the functionality of a handheld microwave spectrum analyzer through a realistic simulation. This application demonstrates how to perform antenna alignment, troubleshooting, and maintenance with ease and speed.

Highlights
  • Simulates handheld microwave spectrum analyzer
  • Demonstrates real microwave radio spectrum data
  • Facilitates antenna alignment
  • Aids in troubleshooting
  • Supports maintenance tasks
Features
Read full description

SAF Spectrum Compact Simulator application was created for you to discover and experience the ease of use of the world's first handheld microwave spectrum analyzer. The application demonstrate full set of SAF Spectrum Compact functions by simulating real microwave radio spectrum data. The device makes the antenna alignment, troubleshooting and maintenance as easy and fast as never before!

About

Sound Spectrum Analysis

Analyze sound spectrums in real-time using your device's microphone. This tool offers detailed frequency and amplitude scales, various window functions, and octave band analysis. It can also function as a noise level meter and allows for data export and saving of measurements.

Highlights
  • Real-time sound spectrum analysis
  • Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) with adjustable size
  • Linear and logarithmic frequency/amplitude scales
  • Octave band analysis (1/1, 1/3, 1/6, 1/12)
  • Multiple window functions
  • A- and C-Weightings
  • Sound level meter (dB SPL)
Read full description

The application is designed for analysis of a sound spectrum in real time (with a microphone). Besides, the application can be used as a measuring instrument of noise level (not for exact measurements). • Sound wave. • Fast fourier transform (FFT). FFT size: 2048 (the accuracy of determining the frequency of ±12 Hz), 4096 (±6 Hz), 8192 (±3 Hz), 16384 (±2 Hz), 32768 (±1 Hz), 65536 (±0.5 Hz), 131072 (±0.2 Hz). • Linear and logarithmic frequency scale. • Linear frequency scale with maximum details (there is a choice for the displayed frequency range). • Linear and logarithmic amplitude scale. • Octave bands (1/1, 1/3, 1/6, 1/12). • Window functions (Blackman, Hamming, Hann (Hanning), Blackman–Nuttall, Gaussian, Flat top). • A- and C-Weightings. • Peak hold. • Exponential spectrum averaging. • Peak frequency detection. • Values of any point (for frequency scale and sound wave (at maximum detail)). • Sound level meter (dB SPL). You can calibrate your microphone by launching a signal generator with a sinusoid frequency of 1000 Hz on another device and making the volume very low. When the sound is almost inaudible, it is necessary to find the amplitude for the frequency of 1000 Hz on the spectrum (FFT size: 16384). This value should be multiplied by 1.2 (to compensate for spectral leakage). It will be the reference value for your microphone. ESTIMATE THE TOTAL NOISE LEVEL BY USING THE SOUND WAVE MODE AT THE MAXIMUM VALUE. • Sample rate: 48000 Hz. • Taking a screenshot by lightly touching the screen. • Export data to a WAV or text file ("Y=[y1 y2... yn]", "y1;y2;... yn", "x1;y1\nx2;y2;..."). Number of points is adjusted via "FFT size". • Automatic stop in the sound wave mode (when increasing or decreasing signal strength). • Automatic stop in the spectrum mode. Now you can stop data collection when the start of the fading signal reaches the end of the FFT buffer. The beginning of the signal is not calculated accurately (just like with an automatic stop in the sound wave mode). • Test wave. • Saving the measurement results in the application. Files with saved data (SavedData_[date]_[time].txt) can be copied to a desktop/laptop computer or transferred to another iPhone using iTunes. There are buttons for quick loading and comparing saved files. • Dark theme. • List of frequency peaks. If several peaks have a common base, then they are considered as one peak. The minimum height of the peak for octave bands is 2 dB. • Interpolation of frequencies in the list of peaks. To interpolate the frequency of the peak, select the Gaussian window (the accuracy of determining the frequency can increase by 10-100 times). The calculation is not done for the extreme bins or if the adjacent bin is zero. • Calculation of the amplitude (in the list of peaks) using neighboring bins (to compensate for spectral leakage and use of the window). The number of bins used for calculation is written in brackets. • Collecting recent data (last minute). You can move over all collected data. The amplitude of the waveform can be changed in the sound wave mode. • Calibration file. The app recognizes only files for the UMIK-1 microphone, but you can specify which microphones you need support for.

Screenshots

Spectrum Compact Simulator3 screens
Sound Spectrum Analysis4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sound Spectrum Analysis at 3.6 against Spectrum Compact Simulator's 1.0. Sound Spectrum Analysis also leads on ratings volume (42 vs 1). Spectrum Compact Simulator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, 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. Sound Spectrum Analysis sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Spectrum Compact Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sound Spectrum Analysis holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sound Spectrum Analysis has 42 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spectrum Compact Simulator ships an update every 2 months, Sound Spectrum Analysis every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Spectrum Compact Simulator versus Sound Spectrum Analysis: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectrum Compact SimulatorSound Spectrum Analysis
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)3.6 (42 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings142 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS7.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSAF Tehnika ASDmitriy Kharutskiy

Customer experience

Spectrum Compact Simulator

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Sound Spectrum Analysis

All ratings42 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative37.1%

In-app purchases

None

Spectrum Compact Simulator

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Sound Spectrum Analysis

One-time1
  • Full version$2.99

Questions

Is Spectrum Compact Simulator free?
Spectrum Compact Simulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sound Spectrum Analysis free?
Sound Spectrum Analysis is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Spectrum Compact Simulator or Sound Spectrum Analysis?
Sound Spectrum Analysis is rated higher. Spectrum Compact Simulator averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Sound Spectrum Analysis averages 3.6 from 42 ratings.
Do Spectrum Compact Simulator or Sound Spectrum Analysis have ads?
Neither Spectrum Compact Simulator nor Sound Spectrum Analysis shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spectrum Compact Simulator or Sound Spectrum Analysis?
Spectrum Compact Simulator ships an update every 2 months, and Sound Spectrum Analysis every 5 weeks. Most recently, Spectrum Compact Simulator was updated on September 18, 2026 and Sound Spectrum Analysis on October 22, 2026.

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