Is the Decibel Meter on the iPhone Accurate?

Can I reliably use it to judge whether or not I need to wear ear plugs? I was at an outdoor festival for 45 minutes to eat with my family and the decibel meter on my phone fluctuated from 80 to 90 decibels so I didn’t wear any plugs.

Does anyone know if that meter is completely useless or does it actually do a good job of telling you how dangerous the sound levels are?

 

Phone meters are good up to around 90dB. Thats what the mic is capped at and the phone will report 90 even if its 120dB

For my phone samsung galaxy S7, I tested my against a handheld meter, and the phone app is accurate up to about 80 then it gets less accurate for each dB above 80

 

It depends on the app. LogSPL is very accurate.

 

The best thing that you can do is not to use a decibel meter at all. All it will do is reinforce negative thinking and instill in you that you have a problem. Forget about the earplugs too as these will do the same. Promote panic, fear, stress and anxiety. If you are not careful phonophobia can result, this is having a fear of sound and can become a big problem. Use earplugs when appropriate and they shouldn't be overused. Please click on the links below and read my posts.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-negative-counselling.26669/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-complexities-of-tinnitus-and-hyperacusis.25733/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

 

I used SPLnFFT for iOS. I find it to be the best sound meter app. Very technical with a lot of features. I use it all the time to test my surroundings if its safe or not when I wear earmuffs and ear plugs because when I do that, I can't hear squat while locked in with my T blaring so I depend on the sound meter to tell me its safe levels around me.

 

I think it really depends on how you use it. Now that I have a dBmeter I know that some noises I used to worry about are actually not worth worrying.
But if you constantly monitor everything with a dBmeter that's a problem yes.

 

Agreed. This is how I use my monitor, too. I feel doing so helped me avoid phonophobia and move forward with my life. It truly surprised me to realize how inaccurately I was judging noise volumes.