{ "measurements": [ { "id": "SPL-2026-000042", "title": "How Loud Is a Hydraulic Breaker?", "completedAt": "2026-09-21T07:44:24Z", "durationSeconds": 69.10000000000035, "environmentGroup": "construction", "environmentType": "roadworks", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "City Of London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 98.72187994497253, "lafmax": 106.48430267787413, "lafmin": 75.88412711552394, "lcpeak": 125.10476875665728, "lceq": 99.244916016999, "lzeq": 99.62851867767333 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "You can hear it long before you reach the roadworks.\n\nThis measurement captures an excavator-mounted hydraulic breaker breaking the road surface at close range. What surprised me wasn’t only the level — around 100 dB during the measurement — but how persistent the sound remained and how clearly it could still be heard well beyond the immediate work area.\n\nThe workers nearby were wearing hearing protection, and for good reason: at these levels, duration becomes as important as loudness. For a pedestrian, the exposure may last only seconds; for the people operating the machinery, it can be part of an entire working day.\n\nA striking example of how one relatively localised source can temporarily change the acoustic environment of a much larger part of a city street.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000042.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000042/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000037", "title": "How Far Does the Sound of a Stadium Travel?", "completedAt": "2026-09-12T13:57:02Z", "durationSeconds": 41.100000000000314, "environmentGroup": "sport_leisure", "environmentType": "stadium", "location": { "visibility": "approximate_area", "city": "Croydon", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 72.53999544999417, "lafmax": 86.60025825911266, "lafmin": 62.14009129114592, "lcpeak": 113.00151455097992, "lceq": 87.63641286434103, "lzeq": 90.58086915231837 }, "calibration": { "status": "device_calibrated", "method": "Calibrated" }, "quality": "device_calibrated", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "You don’t need to be inside a football stadium to experience the match.\nThis SPL Reference measurement was taken at a distance from a stadium during a football match, capturing the crowd as part of the surrounding soundscape. From afar, thousands of individual voices merge into a continuous background presence, punctuated by moments when the crowd suddenly reacts as one.\nIt’s an interesting way to measure not just how loud a stadium is, but how far its acoustic footprint extends into the surrounding environment.\nEnvironment: Outdoor / urban\nSource: Football stadium and crowd, measured at a distance\nMeasurement type: Community / environmental noise", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000037.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000037/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000036", "title": "Small Speaker - Very Big Low End", "completedAt": "2026-09-12T09:48:34Z", "durationSeconds": 156.4999999999954, "environmentGroup": "music_nightlife", "environmentType": "hifi_demo_room", "location": { "visibility": "named_public_place", "city": "Heathrow", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 84.40970873075196, "lafmax": 92.41695940745336, "lafmin": 61.548935497757185, "lcpeak": 107.9432666184239, "lceq": 90.2486173148276, "lzeq": 90.82815679298899 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name_and_organisation", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": "Direct Sound Records" }, "notes": "Small Speaker. Very Big Low End.\n\nThis one wasn’t really about how loud the demonstration was, but about what was happening at the bottom of the spectrum.\n\nDuring a demonstration by D’Von Audio, SPL Reference captured a remarkably extended and controlled low-frequency response from a relatively compact **pre-production loudspeaker.\n\nIn the conditions of this demonstration, the measured response extended to around 24 Hz, remaining impressively linear— an unexpected result from a speaker of this size.\n\nMore interesting than sheer bass quantity was the way the system managed the low end dynamically: depth, control and extension without the bass simply dominating the presentation.\n\nA good reminder of why at DSR we like to put measurements alongside listening impressions: sometimes what surprises the ears becomes even more interesting when you can see what is happening.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000036.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000036/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000035", "title": "How Loud Is “Quality”?", "completedAt": "2026-09-12T09:33:41Z", "durationSeconds": 27.600000000000122, "environmentGroup": "music_nightlife", "environmentType": "hifi_demo_room", "location": { "visibility": "named_public_place", "city": "Heathrow", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 84.14414358302128, "lafmax": 94.19881589553621, "lafmin": 74.02986664199663, "lcpeak": 107.99732611712463, "lceq": 92.14567408306536, "lzeq": 92.46691982503239 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name_and_organisation", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": "Direct Sound Records" }, "notes": "At a Hi-Fi show, we often talk about resolution, dynamics, realism and soundstage — but rarely about the actual level at which those qualities are being demonstrated.\nThis measurement, taken during a listening session at the HiFi Stereo NET Show at Heathrow, looks at the SPL behind the experience. A system may sound effortless and refined even at a high level, which can make the true exposure less obvious than with harsher or more distorted playback.\nThat makes the question interesting: does better sound quality make loud listening feel more comfortable — and therefore easier to underestimate?\nA small real-world measurement linking perceived quality, playback level and listening exposure.\nCurtesy Airt", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000035.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000035/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000034", "title": "How Loud Is Hi-Fi at an Audio Show?", "completedAt": "2026-09-12T09:30:03Z", "durationSeconds": 63.20000000000063, "environmentGroup": "music_nightlife", "environmentType": "hifi_demo_room", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "Heathrow", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 82.33410458206015, "lafmax": 91.5410817163237, "lafmin": 57.03800242915358, "lcpeak": 108.53742247613134, "lceq": 88.79593625796484, "lzeq": 88.96147336021026 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name_and_organisation", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": "Direct sound records" }, "notes": "A listening session at the HiFi Stereo NET Show at Heathrow offers a very different experience from listening at home.\nSystems are demonstrated in unfamiliar rooms, with visitors coming and going, conversations outside or inside the room, and exhibitors often choosing generous playback levels to reveal dynamics, impact and the capabilities of the system.\nThis SPL Reference measurement captures the actual sound exposure during a typical show listening session. How does it compare with a relaxed evening at home? Are we listening louder than we realise when the system, the music and the atmosphere encourage us to turn it up?\nA useful real-world reference connecting Hi-Fi performance, listening habits and sound exposure — because evaluating how a system sounds is only part of the story; knowing how loudly we are experiencing it adds another dimension.\nEnvironment: Hi-Fi show / demonstration room\nActivity: Music listening\nPurpose: Listening-level and exposure reference.\nImage courtesy: Reference Audio", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000034.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000034/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000033", "title": "How Nature Sounds Outside The Big City", "completedAt": "2026-09-10T14:58:41Z", "durationSeconds": 104.79999999999832, "environmentGroup": "nature_outdoors", "environmentType": "urban_park", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "Croydon", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 60.96395493786899, "lafmax": 73.94427886913903, "lafmin": 48.93827966948599, "lcpeak": 106.0079053518025, "lceq": 78.62898459896475, "lzeq": 79.90947612232307 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "Step away from the city and the soundscape changes — but the city doesn’t completely disappear.\n\nThis short measurement captures the natural background of an open outdoor environment: a gentle breeze, subtle sounds from the surrounding landscape, and, far on the horizon, the faint but persistent acoustic presence of the city.\n\nIt’s an interesting reference for SPL Reference: quiet is rarely silence. Even when individual sounds are barely noticeable, together they create the acoustic baseline of a place.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000033.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000033/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000031", "title": "How Loud Is an Involving Hi-Fi Listening Session?", "completedAt": "2026-09-09T16:39:10Z", "durationSeconds": 577.4000000000627, "environmentGroup": "music_nightlife", "environmentType": "hifi_listening_room", "location": { "visibility": "none", "city": null, "country": null }, "levels": { "laeq": 78.68453864292715, "lafmax": 89.11537406938797, "lafmin": 58.27002205551662, "lcpeak": 102.56509167164114, "lceq": 84.64990595940903, "lzeq": 85.16025427706553 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "A high-quality Hi-Fi system can make music feel remarkably present — but how loud are we actually listening when we turn the volume up for a truly involving experience?\nThis measurement was taken during a listening session of Charlie Haden’s The Montreal Tapes: with Paul Bley and Paul Motian at a deliberately high playback level. The result was powerful and engaging, although still below the level I would consider realistic for recreating the scale and dynamics of a live performance.\nBeyond evaluating the system, this measurement asks a different question: what level of sound exposure are we accumulating during serious music listening? SPL, listening duration and musical dynamics all matter when considering exposure; a short peak and an hour spent listening at an elevated average level are very different things.\nFor DSR, this is where Hi-Fi and measurement meet: not simply asking whether a system sounds good, but measuring the conditions under which we experience it. The same approach extends across playback setup, resonance, speed, vibration, room behaviour and acoustic level — turning subjective listening observations into something that can also be documented and compared.\nSource: Eversolo A6 - HiRes 192KHz\nPreamplifier: Audio Research SP20\nPower Amplifiers: Manley Snapper\nSpeakers: Proac D28", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000031.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000031/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000029", "title": "One Minute Standing On London Bridge", "completedAt": "2026-09-09T14:29:07Z", "durationSeconds": 70.70000000000026, "environmentGroup": "streets_roads", "environmentType": "urban_street", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 68.13995522575621, "lafmax": 77.96240178650821, "lafmin": 62.54264269940728, "lcpeak": 105.83092981282715, "lceq": 83.75267454364388, "lzeq": 87.13392981557101 }, "calibration": { "status": "device_calibrated", "method": "Calibrated" }, "quality": "device_calibrated", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "A beautiful view doesn’t necessarily come with a quiet soundtrack.\nThis one-minute measurement, taken from London Bridge while looking towards Tower Bridge, captures the acoustic reality behind one of London’s iconic views: traffic, people, the city in motion and the constant urban background all blending together.\nJust one minute standing still — how loud does London sound when you actually measure it?", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000029.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000029/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000030", "title": "Walk Between Saint Paul And monument (quite)", "completedAt": "2026-09-09T14:17:07Z", "durationSeconds": 671.7000000000842, "environmentGroup": "streets_roads", "environmentType": "urban_street", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 71.860979357704, "lafmax": 90.45273386848089, "lafmin": 57.49930935227955, "lcpeak": 114.12992000202394, "lceq": 83.19964908661876, "lzeq": 85.12779469867499 }, "calibration": { "method": "Calibrated", "status": "device_calibrated" }, "quality": "device_calibrated", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": null }, "notes": "An 11-minute walk from St Paul’s to Monument on an unusually quiet day.\nEven in the heart of London, the soundscape isn’t always dominated by noise. Footsteps, distant traffic, occasional voices and passing activity come and go as the route moves through different streets.\nThis measurement captures something easily overlooked: the quieter side of a major city, and how its sound changes simply by walking through it.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000030.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000030/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000028", "title": "Road Work", "completedAt": "2026-09-07T16:34:56Z", "durationSeconds": 62.70000000000062, "environmentGroup": "construction", "environmentType": "roadworks", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "South Norwood", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 90.9814216422352, "lafmax": 96.85336703413566, "lafmin": 86.53190933725034, "lcpeak": 115.86233292134074, "lceq": 95.7836982056246, "lzeq": 96.07166233286262 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "A short SPL Reference measurement capturing the noise produced by a vibratory rammer compacting the ground during roadworks.\nIts small size is deceptive: the combination of the engine, mechanical vibration and repeated impact with the ground creates a strong, persistent sound at close range. This measurement captures a brief real-world exposure from the perspective of someone passing or standing near the works.\nEnvironment: Urban roadworks\nSound source: Vibratory rammer / compactor\nMeasurement type: Real-world construction noise", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000028.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000028/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000027", "title": "Setting Up a scaffold In The City", "completedAt": "2026-09-07T12:29:09Z", "durationSeconds": 49.40000000000043, "environmentGroup": "construction", "environmentType": "building_construction", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "City Of London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 80.87714086403099, "lafmax": 93.85827127488571, "lafmin": 64.63197920868708, "lcpeak": 105.60921167429503, "lceq": 80.91553204280723, "lzeq": 81.53215743406976 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": null }, "notes": "How Loud Is Setting Up a Scaffold?\n\nIt is an everyday sight on a city street — but how much noise does building a scaffold actually generate?\n\nThis SPL Reference measurement captures workers assembling scaffolding alongside an urban road. Metal poles and fittings being moved, positioned and struck create repeated sharp impacts, mixed with traffic and the normal background of the city.\n\nWhat makes this sound particularly noticeable is not necessarily a continuous high level, but the succession of sudden metallic peaks interrupting the surrounding ambience.\n\nA good example of how an ordinary urban activity can temporarily transform the acoustic character of a street.\n\nEnvironment: Urban street\nActivity: Scaffold assembly\nSoundscape: Metallic impacts, construction activity and road traffic\nMeasurement type: Real-world urban / construction noise", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000027.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000027/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000022", "title": "Escalator - City Thameslink Station", "completedAt": "2026-09-04T15:38:30Z", "durationSeconds": 19.300000000000004, "environmentGroup": "transport", "environmentType": "metro_station", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 78.63024216679699, "lafmax": 82.36468947559479, "lafmin": 75.32676970179003, "lcpeak": 98.60216640030526, "lceq": 84.89167233590484, "lzeq": 85.38747677409734 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "How Surprisingly Noisy Can an Escalator Be?\nAn escalator may seem like an insignificant source of noise, but how loud does it actually get?\nThis measurement lasts less than a minute, yet after being exposed to noise for much of the journey, the continuous mechanical sound of the escalator feels surprisingly intrusive and annoying.\nA small, everyday example of how sound level, duration and previous exposure can shape our perception of noise.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000022.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000022/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000023", "title": "A Short Walk Around St Paul’s — London", "completedAt": "2026-09-04T15:28:12Z", "durationSeconds": 78.29999999999983, "environmentGroup": "streets_roads", "environmentType": "pedestrian_street", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 75.64513147799721, "lafmax": 90.82881666290675, "lafmin": 62.85503399057663, "lcpeak": 115.41225006073209, "lceq": 86.28208427724394, "lzeq": 87.08725723991883 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "John Brown", "organisation": null }, "notes": "What does central London actually sound like when you simply walk through it?\nThis short SPL Reference measurement captures a walk around St Paul’s, where traffic, pedestrians, voices and the wider urban background continuously overlap and change as you move through the area.\nRather than measuring a single noise source, it records the acoustic experience of moving through one of London’s busiest urban environments — a brief snapshot of the sound levels that form part of everyday city life.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000023.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000023/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000024", "title": "Surprisingly Quiet Coffee Shop", "completedAt": "2026-09-04T12:05:37Z", "durationSeconds": 2165.1999999991262, "environmentGroup": "food_drink", "environmentType": "coffee_shop", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 70.4742668062836, "lafmax": 95.97707118369203, "lafmin": 56.893716025078504, "lcpeak": 113.9414981121321, "lceq": 75.73962102224851, "lzeq": 76.10043920595712 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": null }, "notes": "A beautiful coffee shop, a relaxed conversation and some background music — how quiet is “quiet” when we actually measure it?\nThis measurement captures a pleasantly calm café environment during a conversation. Music plays softly in the background, with a noticeable bass presence, while the coffee machine and occasional sounds from customers and the surrounding space create brief changes in level.\nAn interesting example of how a place can feel quiet and comfortable even when its soundscape is far from silent.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000024.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000024/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000025", "title": "Quick Lunch In The Canteen", "completedAt": "2026-09-04T11:45:07Z", "durationSeconds": 871.0000000001295, "environmentGroup": "food_drink", "environmentType": "canteen", "location": { "visibility": "approximate_area", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 84.0392495470152, "lafmax": 99.51230097406113, "lafmin": 63.65188959004594, "lcpeak": 112.18725938994407, "lceq": 85.6766197628079, "lzeq": 85.74451477910446 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "A normal lunch break with two colleagues in a busy company canteen. No particularly loud event, no machinery dominating the room, no obvious source of excessive noise — just the usual combination of conversations, movement, cutlery and the constant background of a shared dining space.\nAnd yet, the overall sound environment felt surprisingly uncomfortable.\nThis SPL Reference measurement captures an interesting aspect of everyday noise exposure: sometimes it is not a single loud event that matters, but the continuous accumulation of many ordinary sounds happening at the same time.", "photo": null, "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000025/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000021", "title": "Office Fire alarm", "completedAt": "2026-09-04T09:59:26Z", "durationSeconds": 66.4000000000005, "environmentGroup": "office_work", "environmentType": "open_plan_office", "location": { "visibility": "approximate_area", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 85.1852817110605, "lafmax": 95.13858283797038, "lafmin": 47.203498684860165, "lcpeak": 105.93551620372196, "lceq": 83.84598866788781, "lzeq": 84.0298891768015 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "How Loud Is a Fire Alarm Test?\n\nFire alarms are designed to be impossible to ignore. But how loud is one when you are actually standing in the building?\n\nThis SPL Reference measurement captures a routine fire alarm test in a real indoor environment, recording both the alarm itself and the surrounding sound before and during its activation.\n\nThe result provides a real-world reference for the sound level and short-term exposure produced by an emergency warning system, rather than a laboratory measurement of the alarm device.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000021.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000021/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000020", "title": "Whitehorse Meadow", "completedAt": "2026-09-03T19:01:18Z", "durationSeconds": 260.3999999999907, "environmentGroup": "nature_outdoors", "environmentType": "urban_park", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 59.684875237461824, "lafmax": 78.17227318507514, "lafmin": 42.74038813467129, "lcpeak": 108.14782080565843, "lceq": 77.04443229573357, "lzeq": 79.78214524844812 }, "calibration": { "status": "device_calibrated", "method": "Calibrated" }, "quality": "device_calibrated", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "Alex", "organisation": null }, "notes": "Evening Walk — Whitehorse Meadow, London, UK\nEnvironmental sound pressure level measurement recorded during an evening walk across Whitehorse Meadow at approximately 8 PM.\nThe measurement captures the changing sound environment experienced while walking through an open urban green space, including the natural background ambience, footsteps and movement, distant road traffic, occasional voices and other human activity, birds and other wildlife, wind and vegetation, and intermittent sounds originating from the surrounding residential and urban environment.\nUnlike a measurement taken from a fixed position, this recording documents sound exposure while moving through the environment. As the walking route changes the distance and orientation relative to individual sound sources, the measurement provides a representation of the acoustic experience of crossing the park rather than the sound level of one specific location within it.\nThe measurement forms part of the SPL Reference real-world environmental dataset, providing a useful quieter outdoor reference for comparison with streets, railway stations, public transport, workplaces, indoor environments and other everyday soundscapes.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000020.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000020/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000013", "title": "City Thameslink Station", "completedAt": "2026-09-02T16:31:36Z", "durationSeconds": 565.60000000006, "environmentGroup": "transport", "environmentType": "railway_platform", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London City", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 83.58961782259306, "lafmax": 97.75622265002352, "lafmin": 57.21552519183937, "lcpeak": 109.7858733908837, "lceq": 85.56687835419183, "lzeq": 85.81008432096101 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "Environmental sound pressure level measurement recorded while waiting for approximately 10 minutes on Platform 1 at City Thameslink railway station in central London.\n\nThe measurement captures the acoustic environment experienced by a passenger during a typical waiting period, including the continuous background noise of the station, ventilation and infrastructure, passenger activity, announcements, and the substantial variations in sound level produced by trains approaching, arriving, stopping, and departing from the platform.\n\nThe enclosed underground platform environment is particularly relevant to this measurement, as train noise and other transient sounds interact with the reflective surfaces and confined geometry of the station.\n\nThe approximately 10-minute measurement period provides a useful representation of real-world passenger noise exposure while waiting for a train and forms part of the SPL Reference real-world environmental dataset, allowing comparison with outdoor railway platforms, onboard train journeys, other public transport environments, and everyday urban noise.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000013.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000013/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000014", "title": "Office Open space", "completedAt": "2026-09-02T12:31:53Z", "durationSeconds": 3600.8999999978205, "environmentGroup": "office_work", "environmentType": "open_plan_office", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 57.3428375999608, "lafmax": 87.13601772321435, "lafmin": 43.913185625216755, "lcpeak": 103.87566491349808, "lceq": 62.96022712500001, "lzeq": 63.820164039959764 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "Environmental sound pressure level measurement recorded continuously for approximately one hour in the open-plan office of a large financial institution in London.\n\nThe measurement captures the typical acoustic environment experienced during everyday office work, including conversations, telephone and video calls, movement through the workspace, keyboards and office equipment, ventilation systems, and the cumulative background sound generated by a large number of people sharing an open space.\n\nUnlike measurements dominated by individual high-level events, this recording is intended to document sustained everyday workplace noise exposure. The one-hour duration captures both quieter periods and temporary increases in activity, providing a more representative picture of the changing sound environment experienced by someone working in the space.\n\nThe measurement forms part of the SPL Reference real-world environmental dataset, providing a reference for comparison with other workplaces, public spaces, transport environments, domestic settings, and urban locations.", "photo": null, "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000014/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000011", "title": "Thameslink Journey - Norwood Junction to London Bridge", "completedAt": "2026-09-02T08:10:34Z", "durationSeconds": 736.4000000000989, "environmentGroup": "transport", "environmentType": "train", "location": { "visibility": "approximate_area", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 67.67857823135645, "lafmax": 94.86114709054223, "lafmin": 60.311068717172546, "lcpeak": 108.15081083026507, "lceq": 81.7381403422541, "lzeq": 85.99990213155607 }, "calibration": { "status": "device_calibrated", "method": "Calibrated" }, "quality": "device_calibrated", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "Environmental sound pressure level measurement recorded during a typical passenger journey aboard a Thameslink train travelling from Norwood Junction to London Bridge.\n\nThe measurement captures the changing acoustic environment experienced inside the passenger carriage throughout the journey, including acceleration and braking, continuous rolling and rail noise, track and wheel interaction, changes in speed, station approaches, and the transition from the suburban rail network towards central London.\n\nRather than representing a controlled acoustic test, this recording documents real-world passenger noise exposure during everyday public transport. It provides a reference for comparing typical and peak sound levels encountered during rail travel with measurements collected in other transport systems, public spaces, urban environments, and everyday listening situations.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000011.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000011/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000012", "title": "Norwood Junction Train Station", "completedAt": "2026-09-02T07:53:05Z", "durationSeconds": 278.59999999999485, "environmentGroup": "transport", "environmentType": "railway_platform", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "South Norwood", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 78.18032362967574, "lafmax": 95.99827564324008, "lafmin": 47.216412788934065, "lcpeak": 110.3322489045438, "lceq": 82.6785767685592, "lzeq": 84.05953059256913 }, "calibration": { "status": "device_calibrated", "method": "Calibrated" }, "quality": "device_calibrated", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": "Environmental sound pressure level measurement recorded while seated on a bench on Platform 3 at Norwood Junction railway station, while waiting for a train.\n\nThe measurement captures the everyday acoustic environment experienced by a passenger on the platform, including background station ambience, nearby rail activity, arriving and departing trains, announcements, passenger activity, and intermittent changes in sound level associated with trains moving through or around the station.\n\nUnlike an onboard measurement, this recording documents stationary noise exposure in an active railway environment, where relatively quiet background periods can be interrupted by much louder short-duration events.\n\nThe measurement forms part of the SPL Reference real-world environmental dataset, providing a reference for comparing railway-platform noise with onboard transport, urban environments, public spaces, workplaces, and other everyday sound environments.", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000012.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/09/SPL-2026-000012/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000003", "title": "Domestic Vacuum Cleaning", "completedAt": "2026-08-25T14:03:39Z", "durationSeconds": 258.9999999999904, "environmentGroup": "residential", "environmentType": "home", "location": { "visibility": "none", "city": null, "country": null }, "levels": { "laeq": 83.61985473220274, "lafmax": 97.56728862128459, "lafmin": 39.092983991861004, "lcpeak": 123.87465020401486, "lceq": 83.37457062511626, "lzeq": 84.42731936166717 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "anonymous", "name": null, "organisation": null }, "notes": null, "photo": null, "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/08/SPL-2026-000003/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000004", "title": "Gypsy Hill Market", "completedAt": "2026-08-22T14:05:16Z", "durationSeconds": 181.099999999994, "environmentGroup": "retail_commercial", "environmentType": "outdoor_market", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "London", "country": "United Kingdom" }, "levels": { "laeq": 63.72514033020926, "lafmax": 84.08901517469741, "lafmin": 51.11623179706997, "lcpeak": 106.93640442067253, "lceq": 73.91574908146195, "lzeq": 75.07383654663322 }, "calibration": { "status": "indicative", "method": "Uncalibrated" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": null }, "notes": "London - Gypsy Hill", "photo": "photos/SPL-2026-000004.jpg", "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/08/SPL-2026-000004/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000006", "title": "Dinner At Funnies pub", "completedAt": "2026-08-15T16:25:55Z", "durationSeconds": 2639.399999998695, "environmentGroup": "food_drink", "environmentType": "pub", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "Sapri", "country": "Italy" }, "levels": { "laeq": 49.29052925786647, "lafmax": 83.48019783637821, "lafmin": 40.81008888636046, "lcpeak": 105.99895961818147, "lceq": 55.452449602592, "lzeq": 56.07682306196036 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": null }, "notes": "This measurement was taken during an evening dinner with friends at Funny’s Pub in Sapri, southern Italy. It represents a typical social dining environment rather than a controlled acoustic test: several people were talking around the table while normal restaurant activity continued in the background, including nearby conversations, staff movement, tableware and the general ambience of the venue.\n\nThe recording is therefore intended as a snapshot of the real-world sound level experienced by a guest during a lively but ordinary evening out. Measurements like this can be useful when comparing everyday leisure environments and understanding how conversational noise, music and room occupancy combine to create the acoustic character of restaurants and pubs.", "photo": null, "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/08/SPL-2026-000006/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" }, { "id": "SPL-2026-000007", "title": "Elayon Club Residence - Disco Night Outside", "completedAt": "2026-08-13T19:14:02Z", "durationSeconds": 3251.4999999981383, "environmentGroup": "music_nightlife", "environmentType": "nightclub", "location": { "visibility": "city", "city": "Villammare", "country": "Italy" }, "levels": { "laeq": 89.31230749640903, "lafmax": 106.51293066128191, "lafmin": 72.52982526118035, "lcpeak": 130.53844708586018, "lceq": 91.36845754400406, "lzeq": 91.40876342664987 }, "calibration": { "method": "Uncalibrated", "status": "indicative" }, "quality": "indicative", "attribution": { "mode": "name", "name": "Michelangelo Canonico", "organisation": null }, "notes": "This measurement was taken outdoors at night from a residential property located close to Elayon Club Residence, a nearby tourist village where amplified music was being played during the evening.\n\nUnlike a measurement taken inside the entertainment venue itself, this recording represents the sound as experienced from the surrounding residential area. The measured level therefore reflects not only the music source, but also the effects of distance, outdoor propagation, local geography and the general nighttime background environment.\n\nThis type of measurement can provide useful context when documenting how leisure and tourist activities contribute to the acoustic environment beyond the boundaries of the venue itself, particularly during evening and nighttime hours when background sound levels are generally lower.", "photo": null, "recordUrl": "https://github.com/directsoundrecords/spl-reference-measurements/blob/main/measurements/2026/08/SPL-2026-000007/measurement.json", "license": "CC-BY-4.0" } ] }