submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I have a problem with noisy neighbours and want an app to measure and record the volume of their noise for possible legal action.

I prefer free-libre from F-Droid, but they don't have one.

Google Play has... hundreds of apps (one at US$100!). No idea which to choose, hopefully a free one without ads and data surveillance.

Web search results filled with sites I don't know/trust, and obvious SEO or AI slop.

So I'm asking folks here: anyone have any experience of a decibel meter app that's:

preferably free-libre
free-gratis (I might pay for a reasonably-priced pro version after I've tried out the free one)
zero or tolerable ads
zero or minial data surveillance

Thanks.

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[-] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Just FYI those apps are not going to be accurate at all. All devices have different microphones in different layouts and none of them are alike. For relative comparisons like X is louder than Y they're fine. But don't expect 33 dbm to actually be 33 dbm.

This only works for iphone because there's like 3 of them every year so it doesn't take as much effort to calibrate an app for them.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Thanks for the info.

So, imperfect but perhaps one might help at least for comparing noise levels, e.g. the noise they're making now compared to last night.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

At levels that don't exceed much over 80dB. If you're relying on it to tell whether your hearing is safe in a club, it isn't safe. 😂 My Pixel tells me that everything is like 89dB upwards from a certain loudness level.

this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2025

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