17 ms·

Why restaurants became so loud

277 points by curtis 8y ago

css 8y ago
I wish there was some sort of logitudinal data to demonstrate that the levels are still climbing or are just louder now due to shifts in design trends. There is not much data in this article aside from a few examples in New York which are probably not representative of the rest of America. That said, lately my partner and I (mid 20s) nearly always wear our hearphones [0] so we can speak in restaurants. [0] https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/wellness/conversation_enhancing_headphones/hearphones.html https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/wellness/conversation_en...
- chairmanwow 8y ago
  I had no idea such a device existed! These are really quite cool. Do they actually work as well as advertised?
  - css 8y ago
    So this is kind of a complex question. Neither of us have hearing problems (I have tinnitus but it is more of an annoyance than an impedance) so we exclusively use them for the active noise cancellation (reducing world volume) and not for the world volume boost. The directional noise cancellation and microphone directivity works quite well for us but I cannot really speak to how well the world volume boost works since I don't have an easy way to measure its effectiveness. My only criticism is that they use HSP during phone calls, then switch back to A2DP when music/audio resumes. This means that audio quality during phone calls is significantly worse than normal audio output, but this occurs with every bluetooth headset I have tried.
    - dlubarov 8y ago
      HSP/HFP for calls is very standard; A2DP isn't suitable for calls since it's unidirectional. HFP 1.6 supports wide band (16khz) speech with the mSBC codec, which is a big improvement, but adoption has been very slow. E.g. in Android, I think Oreo finally added some HFP 1.6 support, and 16kz SCO output should be theoretically possible (I wasn't able to get it to work). But for some reason, 8khz SCO input remains explicitly unsupported, as per the AudioManager doc: > "The following restrictions apply on [SCO] input streams: [...] the sampling must be 8kHz" From what I've seen, most bluetooth devices and cellular providers don't seem to support 16khz speech either. At this rate, it seems like most of us won't enjoy wide band bluetooth calls until 2030 or so.
- VygmraMGVl 8y ago
  Tom Sietsema, restaurant reviewer for the Washington Post Magazine, has been including decibel readings in his restaurant reviews for the last 10 years. I'm not sure if there's a summary of the change in those numbers over time or not. [0] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040102210.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04...
  - css 8y ago
    The WP link in the blog post for this 404s, thanks for posting the correct link.
  - dopeboy 8y ago
    Has anyone scraped his reviews yet and summarized? I'd be down to if no one has done it yet.
- not_a_terrorist 8y ago
  > design trends You are hitting your nail straight on the head, my friend. Main culprit is: Unfinished ceiling/metallic ceilings (usually corrugated steel pannels, either square or triangular profile pattern). It's very trendy now to have exposed mechanical equipment and venting, people do not bat an eye anymore. Been ok for about 25 years now. Source: me, working in the business, I specifically avoid any public place with such unfinished ceilings. I cannot stand it anymore!
ravenstine 8y ago
This is part of the reason I don't go out nearly as much anymore. I got convinced that I was losing my hearing, but it could also be that people are just loud and getting louder, at least in America. After hearing myself say "I can't hear you" and "what's that" over and over again, and resorting to buy more alcohol so I could at least enjoy myself in the haze of speech, I eventually just went "eh" and realized I just don't even care anymore. Part of me thinks that the idea of a noisy atmosphere is to cause confusion, and confused customers are probably better customers. If they're getting all their enjoyment out of conversations, maybe they're less likely to buy more food and drinks to "smooth over" and "lubricate" their interactions.
- lev99 8y ago
  Different restaurants have different noise levels. You can choose to visit quieter locations. Choosing the right restaurant for the occasion and company is actually one of the most important things to get right in dining out.
  - nxc18 8y ago
    The noise level seems to be rising everywhere. I can't think of anything other than fine dining where I live that isn't obnoxiously loud at all times. The frustration is that you just don't have a choice these days. I particularly despise live music (restaurant can't even try to adjust volume there), which all of the establishments in my area are competing to have as often as possible.
    - ajmurmann 8y ago
      You are totally right. Even at restaurants that are usually quiet a group of more than four people in the room is frequently all that's needed to make the entire place loud. It seems especially bad with groups that are entirely made up of one gender.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - 8y ago
jshevek 8y ago
I skimmed the article and didn't see this information: I'd like to know how this breaks down by region of the country, by urban vs rural, and by age of the patrons.
duxup 8y ago
There are a couple places I just won't go because of the noise. I do go to a few places specifically because they are relatively quiet, even when busy.
- finaliteration 8y ago
  Most of the time when I’m out at a restaurant or cafe it’s not to listen to loud music, but to sit down and have some quality time with one or a few people. It completely ruins the experience for me when they have music playing so. Damn. Loud. Especially in places packed with people where it’s already loud due to everyone talking. There are certain places where the food and service are good but I just won’t go because of the noise levels. And this is coming from someone who loves heavy metal and goes to some pretty loud concerts. But there’s a time and a place for it.
lev99 8y ago
This article has no real data backing up their claim, although they are probably correct.
danepowell 8y ago
I'm surprised the article didn't recommend the simplest solution for individuals, which is to use ear plugs. Nowadays you can get versions that are tiny and flesh-colored, i.e. nearly invisible. I felt a little dorky wearing them at first, but they make a world of difference, and I've seen other people start to wear them as well. Obviously this doesn't exactly address the root of the problem, which is that restaurants shouldn't require the kind of PPE that you'd have at a concert venue.
- bryan11 8y ago
  I carry high fidelity ear plugs that cut noise levels by about 15 decibels. These can be good for some restaurants, churches, and stores where noise levels are high but you still wish to hear people around you. Flesh-colored foam ear plugs can block 30+ decibels and are great for places with extreme volumes.
  - tfha 8y ago
    Have some high fidelity ear plugs myself. The hi-fi goes a long way! I wear them in the car, in the bus, on the train, at a loud restaurant (can still hear friends), at concerts, in the datacenter. I never expected them to be so comfortable. It feels completely natural now to pop them in if I'm feeling like the enviornmental sounds are higher than desirable. Mine are 20db
    - graeme 8y ago
      Are there any with good carrying cases along the lines of apple airpods? I can fit those in my pocket and forget about them. Would love to do the same with some hife earplugs. (Have never tried any but they sound great)
      - thx11389793 8y ago
        mine (etymotic) came with a small squeeze to open coin-pouch thing, maybe 5cm by 8cm. it disappears pretty well into a jeans pocket. expect to pay 100-200 for custom molded ones. if you want inexpensive ones that are still pretty decent and low profile, I recommend Hearos. barely visible when they're in.
Alex3917 8y ago
I started just carrying these around in my backpack: https://smile.amazon.com/EarPeace-Concert-Ear-Plugs-Protection/dp/B076VVP6CX/ https://smile.amazon.com/EarPeace-Concert-Ear-Plugs-Protecti... I always avoid loud restaurants and bars when given a choice, but if there is a work event I need to go to then they are useful. It's annoying carrying them around when I rarely use them, but it's better than giving yourself permanent hearing damage just because you need to go to a (poorly organized) meetup or whatever.
callumprentice 8y ago
My family and I recently moved to the Los Angeles CA area and we've yet to find a bar or restaurant that isn't incredibly loud. It's almost like the local building codes, or the air or something else conspires to make the acoustics in every single place we've tried completely miserable - even when it's not very busy. I'd love to discover why it seems to be the case.
- starpilot 8y ago
  For quiet bars, try 1642 Beer and Wine, and Bar Bandini. For restaurants, smaller ethnic places are usually quiet. Americans unfortunately are just loud, extroverted folks.
  - callumprentice 8y ago
    It doesn't appear to be the level of noise - more like the acoustics with normal sounds that make it hard to hear people across the table.
  - rrock 8y ago
    Not all of us. Unfortunately, all it takes is one screamy table to ruin a room for everyone.
- saltcured 8y ago
  I'd say it is culture, not code. Twenty years ago, chains like California Pizza Kitchen were archtypical as noisier than average with lots of metal, glass, and other hard surfaces. It was already a cliche by then, but it wasn't the only style successfully operating. What I've seen over the decades is those others going out of business and being replaced by either the glossy, clean style or the unfinished industrial style. Nobody is using soft materials which remind too much of our fathers' or grandfathers' banquet halls and family restaurants.
  - callumprentice 8y ago
    I think you're right about the hard materials aspect. We moved from San Francisco though which seemed to have a similar number of places with cold, hard materials.
benatkin 8y ago
This is a good thing. People are being more expressive, which means they're being more playful, which means more creativity, which is needed with the way simple jobs are being automated. Also music. It's too bad for people who are annoyed by it, but oh well, there's no way to please everyone, and enough damage has been done by being too strict with anti-smoking regulation so I hope they can understand why people aren't in a rush to protect peoples' sensibilities. Same with the emotional support animals.
brudgers 8y ago
But doing acoustics right, it turns out, can be really expensive. Mitigating the kind of noise restaurants can create isn't expensive. There's an off the shelf engineered solution that's been around for almost 70 years. Acoustic ceiling tiles. Restaurants are loud because acoustic ceiling tiles are out of fashion even though significantly less expensive than hard surfaces and exposed building services+structure if painted.[1] Though carpeting and upholstery help, acoustic treatment of the ceiling is the first line of noise mitigation. [2] [1]: Among the most costly finishes are services and structures fabricated to aesthetic criteria. [2]: The stylistic trend away from acoustic ceiling tile, carpets, and upholstery further erodes acoustic privacy in open offices.
- theoh 8y ago
  Meeting aesthetic criteria may be non-negotiable, particularly in a hospitality context. So it is probably on top of those that acoustics needs to be addressed. Acoustic ceiling tile is pretty horrible from an interior design perspective...
  - notafraudster 8y ago
    Noise is arguably an aesthetic criteria, is it not?
    - theoh 8y ago
      The comment I was replying to made a clear distinction between acoustic and aesthetic aspects. Music is aesthetic sound, so you have a point, but most architects consider acoustics as something functional like temperature or ventilation. It's really rare for a space to be conceptualized in terms of a particular desired acoustic, except for theatres and concert halls. I remembered something the architect Peter Zumthor said, which is quoted in this article: https://www.dwell.com/article/the-world-of-sound-2b3fbcf7 https://www.dwell.com/article/the-world-of-sound-2b3fbcf7
  - gowld 8y ago
    surely they could be painted or decorated? the fashionable alternative is exposed ductwork, which is frankly silly.
ironjunkie 8y ago
Having moved from Europe, I can agree that people in California are incredibly loud. Most conversations are normal, but people seem to always want to react with exaggerated laughs, or exaggerated replies for some reasons. (yes, the stereotypical "OOOH MY GOOOOOOOOOD")
- s0rce 8y ago
  All the quiet people are taking advantage of the mountains and miles of miles of quiet wilderness across the state. Leaving only loud people in the cities. I have no proof to back this up.
  - ebikelaw 8y ago
    Oddly, when I go hiking in the forest what often happens is I can hear two people, miles away, yapping at each other at the tops of their lungs.
    - twothamendment 8y ago
      I like the peace when hiking, except in bear country. I don't mind a loud mouth in the group so we don't sneak up on things that cause injury to life and limb.
      - torstenvl 8y ago
        A bear bell is still more pleasant than the sound of certain kinds of human voices.
  - twothamendment 8y ago
    I don't know about all the quiet people, but I fall into your generalization. I'm on vacation and while I've enjoyed the places I've been I can wait to get home to some peace and quiet where I can curse my refrigerator for being so noisy. (It is just fine, but when it is all you can hear it starts to seem loud.)
- toomanybeersies 8y ago
joezydeco 8y ago
We just had a thread where a famous musician made a custom soundtrack for his favorite restaurant: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17604501 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17604501 Grant Achatz went out and solicited playlist ideas from the public when opening Roister in Chicago https://chicago.eater.com/2015/11/4/9670684/roister-music-crowdsourcing https://chicago.eater.com/2015/11/4/9670684/roister-music-cr... It's simple. The music is now part of the decor. It must be heard at all costs, so up goes the volume once people fill the place. Then it becomes a positive feedback loop of people shouting to hear each other speak, volume goes up again, and everyone goes deaf.
anotherevan 8y ago
My daughter has a condition called hyperacusis[1] defined as, "an abnormal intolerance, a heightened sense of volume and physical discomfort from ordinary, everyday sounds, which other people can tolerate well." Because of this, I have become so aware of the sheer amount of noise in everyday environments. I remember sitting in a nice, peaceful environment for twenty minutes waiting for the local coffee shop to open. Come 8am they turned on the loud, thumping music. Why, why, WHY? [1] http://www.dineenwestcottmoore.com.au/specialist-services/hyperacusis-misophonia#what-is-hyperacusis http://www.dineenwestcottmoore.com.au/specialist-services/hy...
- rhacker 8y ago
  I wish there were more people that come to this conclusion. I can't stand busy cities anymore because music bumpers in their cars, people playing TVs loudly with their windows open, people HONKing their car to get the attention of someone in a building, people clicking their cars, people opening and closing their car doors FAR more frequently than necessary.
  - insickness 8y ago
    I live in NYC. I've wear earplugs almost everywhere I go.
  - tajen 8y ago
    In Sydney I would always avoid the main CBD street (George St). It’s so noisy with cars, it doesn’t only prevent people from talking, but also thinking... It’s a classical case of 3-lane street with busses going 60kmh, with glass buildings on both sides, so as a pedestrian you’re stuck in a resonnance enclosure.
- avip 8y ago
  Politely asking to turn down the volume is effective, and generally welcome by other customers as well.
  - anotherevan 8y ago
cyberferret 8y ago
This has become my default selection criteria nowadays when choosing a cafe or restaurant to enjoy a meal or meet friends/colleagues at. No more is it about the food or coffee/tea quality. Noise levels are a critical factor. And this is coming from someone who regularly plays loud guitar on stage (though I do that with etymotic earplugs in nowadays). I hate the modern "stark industrial" design trend in modern eating establishments. All that concrete and bare wood just act as echo reflections and harmonic cacophony.
tonymet 8y ago
Noise is worsening everywhere. Gas stations and checkout queues have obnoxious ads. workplaces are built out of concrete warehouses, with open floorplans, so even a quiet conversation turns into a raucous. If sugar was the new smoking then noise is the new sugar. do what I do and keep earplugs around your neck wherever you go. they're more effective at reducing anxiety than any other remedy
- BurningFrog 8y ago
  I wouldn't trust my ears on this. Aging ears will tell you the world sounds worse each year.
  - jimmaswell 8y ago
    Shouldn't aging ears make the world quieter over time?
    - BurningFrog 8y ago
      If you're lucky... But think tinnitus and inability to filter out background noise is often the worse of it. I'll admit to not have any deep knowledge. I do remain firmly opposed to determining noise trend in society based on sampling your own aging ears!
  - criddell 8y ago
    I think he's talking about things like video screens on gas pumps that play a sports highlight, then an ad at a very loud volume.
andrewclunn 8y ago
Maybe if they turned off the damn background music!
mgleason_3 8y ago
Just got back from Italy. We hadn't really noticed the noise levels while there, but when we got back and ate out, we were like "OMG, what happened?" It was almost impossible to have a conversation. And, it seems like all of the newest restaurants are insanely loud. We went to Seasons 52 and a couple ladies at a table next to us almost knocked us out of our seats especially with their laughs and screams. But, it's funny because so many Americans think Italians are loud. They're much quieter when eating out. And other cultures, like the English and Dutch talk basically in whispers. And living in California where there's a law for everything. It's gotta be bad for your hearing. Which brings me to another question. I wonder why CALOSHA hasn't done anything about it? Maybe the same reason that the fire department doesn't do anything about all the locked doors with the sign above that says "These doors shall remain unlocked during business hours". Apparently public servants are only required enforce laws against the homeless and kids riding without helmets to junior life guards ... and people who point out stuff they're supposed to be doing...Uh oh.
- mdemare 8y ago
  The Dutch talk in whispers? Just ... no. (I’m Dutch). The Belgians and especially the French do talk very softly.
  - rapsey 8y ago
    In comparison to americans everyone talks in whispers.
    - dazc 8y ago
      You've been to Spain?
      - dgsb 8y ago
        Yes indeed, several times. I've only travelled in NYC, but nothing really compare to the loudness I've been exposed in the there.
  - 8y ago
amelius 8y ago
I usually bring a pair of bone conduction transducers, similar to the ones found in the Google Glass product. They allow me to communicate with my dining partner at a normal volume. The downside is that you hear more eating noises (chewing, etc) but you get used to that.
- atomical 8y ago
  What does that look like?
markatkinson 8y ago
I had to quit an exercise class to it essentially turning into a musical torture chamber. They upgraded their speaker system to mega club levels with base bins and massive hanging speakers. The volume was so loud and the music so intense I actually had to stop at times and block my ears. This sounds melodramatic but it is honestly ridiculous. After those few classes I went to I would have ringing in my ears for a few hours, and my ears would feel very blocked. I also noticed I became a lot more agitated and anxious afterwards.
- DenisM 8y ago
  People operating the gym have probably gone deaf, hence the need for higher volumes. Vicious cycle.
  - pbhjpbhj 8y ago
    DJs often seen to have hearing problems, I don't know why specific noise limits aren't legally mandated. There's a barracks that is literally a mile away from us in our city, they had a party and the music was loud enough that it woke children in our street ... that has to be damaging prole hearing who are close-by.
    - johnchristopher 8y ago
      In Europe/Belgium there is but as you mentioned it people don't realise the dangers and basically think the government wants to prevent them from having fun. A lot of misinformation too (eg: "it's okay,above a certain threshold the ears close themselves, that's why you feel a bit deaf for a day or two after a concert).
- raverbashing 8y ago
  Maybe bring an earplug? (Loud sounds are not for everybody, but if you like the class but it is annoyed by the sound it could have been an option)
- annamargot 8y ago
  Seems like a trend with gym classes. Spin in particular. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/5/31/17393394/spinning-cycling-exercise-loud-music-hearing-loss https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/5/31/17393394/sp...
martinpw 8y ago
A few months ago I was in a pub in Cupertino (Duke of Edinburgh) and was astounded by how quiet it was. All you could hear was a murmur of conversation from nearby people. No loud music playing, no yelling or shouting. It was an incredibly pleasant experience and made me realize how miserable most pubs and restaurants are in comparison. Maybe I just got lucky that particular evening, but it really stuck in my memory as a good experience.
mrmondo 8y ago
Although young, I've found this a real problem. Many places have terrible acoustics and I totally disagree that making them better (maybe not great) is expensive - there's many simple things you can do to make a huge difference. What I struggle with is hearing the conversation with the person across the table from me, what has actually recently helped is running a device with iOS 12 (beta) and using AirPods (https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/05/live-listen-ios-12-apple-airpods/ https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/05/live-listen-ios-12-apple...) - it actually works pretty damn well, I just feel like a bit of a jerk wearing ear buds while dining / having a wine.
pasta 8y ago
There is another thing the article doesn't mention: open kitchen design. And loud machines like blenders and coffee machines.
- mingabunga 8y ago
  agree, nothing worse than the barista banging whatever it is to remove the coffee grounds. I know the noise is trying to create a busy buzz, but it's ridiculous after a while. Like working in a tool shop.
benzible 8y ago
Meyer Sound has a system called Constellation that as they put it "balances the buzz of a lively room so patrons don’t have to raise their voices to converse comfortably over the din, and allows the staff to control the sound level as the room’s occupancy changes." Comal in Berkeley, where I live, was the first to install it and I can attest to its effectiveness. More on this here: https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/High-tech-system-lets-restaurant-set-noise-level-3554029.php https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/High-tech-system-let...
pwaai 8y ago
sometimes I wish I could just grab something to eat and perhaps an alcoholic beverage without having to shout. Also the tipping culture in North America really needs to go. It's prohibitive. Just take a look at Asia. People eat out more because people are not tipped. Of course North America is expensive. So why not create a livable wage and happy staff? Oh right, food industry is cutt throat and low margins.
- Hydraulix989 8y ago
  At least here in Seoul, groceries/produce are actually more expensive than just ordering food delivery (there are many UberEATS-like competitors in Seoul because everything is so dense) or going to a restaurant.
  - pwaai 8y ago
    yeah makes me wanna move there but the fine dust pollution and infrastructural safety is a concern, a result of kamikaze style growth.
    - Hydraulix989 8y ago
      In SF, it's unaffordable housing, terrible transportation, and needles everywhere. Pick your poison.
      - pwaai 8y ago
        huh? you just described vancouver. but the most expensive gas and shittiest salary in north america.
lukeylunchbox 8y ago
Restaurants are for the boring. I cannot imagine wasting an evening waiting for food. Of course these are the clientele to complain. In this case about noise...
- distances 8y ago
  I guess you are in your late teens or early twenties? People tend to gain more appreciation for a good conversation and high-quality food as they grow older.
marcus_holmes 8y ago
Wetherspoons pubs in the UK don't play music, as a deliberate policy, and it's one of the reasons they're so successful. It's great if you just want to drink with your friends and have a conversation. I hope more follow suit.
alkonaut 8y ago
Making a room easy to conversate in is pretty easy and cheap (carpets, curtains, ceiling tiles...). Making a room pretty is quite tricky and expensive (design of materials, architecture, ...). What’s really rare and ultra expensive is making both at once. Create a space with clean surfaces, high ceilings, etc and still manage acoustics. That’s where restaurants fail. And I get that they fail because if quiet+pretty is too expensive, then in the choice between quiet and pretty you will do better going for pretty. Because as much as people complain about noise, we never even visited the quiet place with fitted carpets and acoustic tiles. A related observation I made was that light really makes people loud. I recently had breakfast in a hotel that made an unusual design choice: a very dark candle lit space was used as the breakfast restaurant. Despite being full of people, most were naturally whispering. But light is just another design element. If you design with lots of light, you also get louder conversation (at least that is my observation based on just a few data points).
stunt 8y ago
Where is not loud anymore? It’s so noisy everywhere that people have to seek their quiet moments at home which in modern lifestyle it means using an smartphone and social networks where we can talk/hear without noise by writing/reading. While we fairly blame smarphones and social networks for changes in our families, I’m pretty sure noisy environment is one of the escalators.
chrisbennet 8y ago
I didn’t see anyone comment on this so I’ll add my 2 cents: I think that people think that if they complain that the noise is excessive that the venue will respond. I haven’t found it to be true. The blasting volume of the advertisements at the movie theater, the noisey restaurant, the freezing temperature, etc. they are probably that way for a reason i.e. it’s not an oversight they will correct now that you’ve brought it to their attention. I’ve gone to restaurants and after being seated found the conditions unpleasant enough that we get up, apologize (“it’s too cold/loud/etc”) and leave.
mirimir 8y ago
Many of my friends and I do indeed hate loud restaurants. So we sometimes wear discreet ear plugs, and pretend that we're hard of hearing. Actually, some of us are, and they just turn off their hearing aids.
learc83 8y ago
Tolerance for loud noise decreases with age for physiological reasons. It seems likely that this would explain a good bit of the anecdotal evidence supporting this.
stevetodd 8y ago
I always thought they designed them to be loud so that they could turn tables over faster. More table turnover means more revenue with little increase in cost.
Semaphor 8y ago
I wonder if this is partly because for Americans eating out is more commonplace? It's certainly a more rare thing in Germany, but afaik in the rest of the EU as well (?).
bogomipz 8y ago
I feel that noise level risen across all retail and the service industry outlets. It seems commonplace now to walk into clothing stores, drug stores or even sometimes grocery stores and the music is way too loud. I think it's part of a wider problem that either a) people might now require too much stimulation or management has concerns that there's not enough stimulation for their customers.
antibland 8y ago
As a misophonia sufferer, the acoustics of loud restaurants have, at times, caused me to walk out and eat elsewhere. If I was with company when this urge to leave happened, I would squirm and wince in my chair, toughing it out. The worst offenders to my ears are piercing, sibilant s sounds and low, loud, bassy voices. I circumvent 90% of my discomfort by wearing Airpods emitting a low dose of white noise.
enra 8y ago
The main reason I like to host people over for food or drink. You can actually properly discuss with people without shouting and distractions (waiters, other people yelling, children etc)
ahmetyas01 8y ago
It will be a hit once someone have restaurant with be quite policy. :)
infectoid 8y ago
I have been trying out SoundPrint to profile good and bad places to go for those of us with a low tolerance for loud music while trying to socialise. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundprint-find-a-quiet-spot/id971189322 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundprint-find-a-quiet-spot... Not sure if it's available on Android but I"m sure there is something similar.

277 points by curtis 8y ago

css 8y ago

I wish there was some sort of logitudinal data to demonstrate that the levels are still climbing or are just louder now due to shifts in design trends. There is not much data in this article aside from a few examples in New York which are probably not representative of the rest of America. That said, lately my partner and I (mid 20s) nearly always wear our hearphones [0] so we can speak in restaurants. [0] https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/wellness/conversation_enhancing_headphones/hearphones.html https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/wellness/conversation_en...

chairmanwow 8y ago
I had no idea such a device existed! These are really quite cool. Do they actually work as well as advertised?
- css 8y ago
  So this is kind of a complex question. Neither of us have hearing problems (I have tinnitus but it is more of an annoyance than an impedance) so we exclusively use them for the active noise cancellation (reducing world volume) and not for the world volume boost. The directional noise cancellation and microphone directivity works quite well for us but I cannot really speak to how well the world volume boost works since I don't have an easy way to measure its effectiveness. My only criticism is that they use HSP during phone calls, then switch back to A2DP when music/audio resumes. This means that audio quality during phone calls is significantly worse than normal audio output, but this occurs with every bluetooth headset I have tried.
  - dlubarov 8y ago
    HSP/HFP for calls is very standard; A2DP isn't suitable for calls since it's unidirectional. HFP 1.6 supports wide band (16khz) speech with the mSBC codec, which is a big improvement, but adoption has been very slow. E.g. in Android, I think Oreo finally added some HFP 1.6 support, and 16kz SCO output should be theoretically possible (I wasn't able to get it to work). But for some reason, 8khz SCO input remains explicitly unsupported, as per the AudioManager doc: > "The following restrictions apply on [SCO] input streams: [...] the sampling must be 8kHz" From what I've seen, most bluetooth devices and cellular providers don't seem to support 16khz speech either. At this rate, it seems like most of us won't enjoy wide band bluetooth calls until 2030 or so.
VygmraMGVl 8y ago
Tom Sietsema, restaurant reviewer for the Washington Post Magazine, has been including decibel readings in his restaurant reviews for the last 10 years. I'm not sure if there's a summary of the change in those numbers over time or not. [0] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040102210.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04...
- css 8y ago
  The WP link in the blog post for this 404s, thanks for posting the correct link.
- dopeboy 8y ago
  Has anyone scraped his reviews yet and summarized? I'd be down to if no one has done it yet.
not_a_terrorist 8y ago
> design trends You are hitting your nail straight on the head, my friend. Main culprit is: Unfinished ceiling/metallic ceilings (usually corrugated steel pannels, either square or triangular profile pattern). It's very trendy now to have exposed mechanical equipment and venting, people do not bat an eye anymore. Been ok for about 25 years now. Source: me, working in the business, I specifically avoid any public place with such unfinished ceilings. I cannot stand it anymore!

ravenstine 8y ago

This is part of the reason I don't go out nearly as much anymore. I got convinced that I was losing my hearing, but it could also be that people are just loud and getting louder, at least in America. After hearing myself say "I can't hear you" and "what's that" over and over again, and resorting to buy more alcohol so I could at least enjoy myself in the haze of speech, I eventually just went "eh" and realized I just don't even care anymore. Part of me thinks that the idea of a noisy atmosphere is to cause confusion, and confused customers are probably better customers. If they're getting all their enjoyment out of conversations, maybe they're less likely to buy more food and drinks to "smooth over" and "lubricate" their interactions.

lev99 8y ago
Different restaurants have different noise levels. You can choose to visit quieter locations. Choosing the right restaurant for the occasion and company is actually one of the most important things to get right in dining out.
- nxc18 8y ago
  The noise level seems to be rising everywhere. I can't think of anything other than fine dining where I live that isn't obnoxiously loud at all times. The frustration is that you just don't have a choice these days. I particularly despise live music (restaurant can't even try to adjust volume there), which all of the establishments in my area are competing to have as often as possible.
  - ajmurmann 8y ago
    You are totally right. Even at restaurants that are usually quiet a group of more than four people in the room is frequently all that's needed to make the entire place loud. It seems especially bad with groups that are entirely made up of one gender.
  - deleted 8y ago
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jshevek 8y ago

I skimmed the article and didn't see this information: I'd like to know how this breaks down by region of the country, by urban vs rural, and by age of the patrons.

duxup 8y ago

There are a couple places I just won't go because of the noise. I do go to a few places specifically because they are relatively quiet, even when busy.

finaliteration 8y ago
Most of the time when I’m out at a restaurant or cafe it’s not to listen to loud music, but to sit down and have some quality time with one or a few people. It completely ruins the experience for me when they have music playing so. Damn. Loud. Especially in places packed with people where it’s already loud due to everyone talking. There are certain places where the food and service are good but I just won’t go because of the noise levels. And this is coming from someone who loves heavy metal and goes to some pretty loud concerts. But there’s a time and a place for it.

lev99 8y ago

This article has no real data backing up their claim, although they are probably correct.

danepowell 8y ago

I'm surprised the article didn't recommend the simplest solution for individuals, which is to use ear plugs. Nowadays you can get versions that are tiny and flesh-colored, i.e. nearly invisible. I felt a little dorky wearing them at first, but they make a world of difference, and I've seen other people start to wear them as well. Obviously this doesn't exactly address the root of the problem, which is that restaurants shouldn't require the kind of PPE that you'd have at a concert venue.

bryan11 8y ago
I carry high fidelity ear plugs that cut noise levels by about 15 decibels. These can be good for some restaurants, churches, and stores where noise levels are high but you still wish to hear people around you. Flesh-colored foam ear plugs can block 30+ decibels and are great for places with extreme volumes.
- tfha 8y ago
  Have some high fidelity ear plugs myself. The hi-fi goes a long way! I wear them in the car, in the bus, on the train, at a loud restaurant (can still hear friends), at concerts, in the datacenter. I never expected them to be so comfortable. It feels completely natural now to pop them in if I'm feeling like the enviornmental sounds are higher than desirable. Mine are 20db
  - graeme 8y ago
    Are there any with good carrying cases along the lines of apple airpods? I can fit those in my pocket and forget about them. Would love to do the same with some hife earplugs. (Have never tried any but they sound great)
    - thx11389793 8y ago
      mine (etymotic) came with a small squeeze to open coin-pouch thing, maybe 5cm by 8cm. it disappears pretty well into a jeans pocket. expect to pay 100-200 for custom molded ones. if you want inexpensive ones that are still pretty decent and low profile, I recommend Hearos. barely visible when they're in.

Alex3917 8y ago

I started just carrying these around in my backpack: https://smile.amazon.com/EarPeace-Concert-Ear-Plugs-Protection/dp/B076VVP6CX/ https://smile.amazon.com/EarPeace-Concert-Ear-Plugs-Protecti... I always avoid loud restaurants and bars when given a choice, but if there is a work event I need to go to then they are useful. It's annoying carrying them around when I rarely use them, but it's better than giving yourself permanent hearing damage just because you need to go to a (poorly organized) meetup or whatever.

callumprentice 8y ago

My family and I recently moved to the Los Angeles CA area and we've yet to find a bar or restaurant that isn't incredibly loud. It's almost like the local building codes, or the air or something else conspires to make the acoustics in every single place we've tried completely miserable - even when it's not very busy. I'd love to discover why it seems to be the case.

starpilot 8y ago
For quiet bars, try 1642 Beer and Wine, and Bar Bandini. For restaurants, smaller ethnic places are usually quiet. Americans unfortunately are just loud, extroverted folks.
- callumprentice 8y ago
  It doesn't appear to be the level of noise - more like the acoustics with normal sounds that make it hard to hear people across the table.
- rrock 8y ago
  Not all of us. Unfortunately, all it takes is one screamy table to ruin a room for everyone.
saltcured 8y ago
I'd say it is culture, not code. Twenty years ago, chains like California Pizza Kitchen were archtypical as noisier than average with lots of metal, glass, and other hard surfaces. It was already a cliche by then, but it wasn't the only style successfully operating. What I've seen over the decades is those others going out of business and being replaced by either the glossy, clean style or the unfinished industrial style. Nobody is using soft materials which remind too much of our fathers' or grandfathers' banquet halls and family restaurants.
- callumprentice 8y ago
  I think you're right about the hard materials aspect. We moved from San Francisco though which seemed to have a similar number of places with cold, hard materials.

benatkin 8y ago

This is a good thing. People are being more expressive, which means they're being more playful, which means more creativity, which is needed with the way simple jobs are being automated. Also music. It's too bad for people who are annoyed by it, but oh well, there's no way to please everyone, and enough damage has been done by being too strict with anti-smoking regulation so I hope they can understand why people aren't in a rush to protect peoples' sensibilities. Same with the emotional support animals.

brudgers 8y ago

But doing acoustics right, it turns out, can be really expensive. Mitigating the kind of noise restaurants can create isn't expensive. There's an off the shelf engineered solution that's been around for almost 70 years. Acoustic ceiling tiles. Restaurants are loud because acoustic ceiling tiles are out of fashion even though significantly less expensive than hard surfaces and exposed building services+structure if painted.[1] Though carpeting and upholstery help, acoustic treatment of the ceiling is the first line of noise mitigation. [2] [1]: Among the most costly finishes are services and structures fabricated to aesthetic criteria. [2]: The stylistic trend away from acoustic ceiling tile, carpets, and upholstery further erodes acoustic privacy in open offices.

theoh 8y ago
Meeting aesthetic criteria may be non-negotiable, particularly in a hospitality context. So it is probably on top of those that acoustics needs to be addressed. Acoustic ceiling tile is pretty horrible from an interior design perspective...
- notafraudster 8y ago
  Noise is arguably an aesthetic criteria, is it not?
  - theoh 8y ago
    The comment I was replying to made a clear distinction between acoustic and aesthetic aspects. Music is aesthetic sound, so you have a point, but most architects consider acoustics as something functional like temperature or ventilation. It's really rare for a space to be conceptualized in terms of a particular desired acoustic, except for theatres and concert halls. I remembered something the architect Peter Zumthor said, which is quoted in this article: https://www.dwell.com/article/the-world-of-sound-2b3fbcf7 https://www.dwell.com/article/the-world-of-sound-2b3fbcf7
- gowld 8y ago
  surely they could be painted or decorated? the fashionable alternative is exposed ductwork, which is frankly silly.

ironjunkie 8y ago

Having moved from Europe, I can agree that people in California are incredibly loud. Most conversations are normal, but people seem to always want to react with exaggerated laughs, or exaggerated replies for some reasons. (yes, the stereotypical "OOOH MY GOOOOOOOOOD")

s0rce 8y ago
All the quiet people are taking advantage of the mountains and miles of miles of quiet wilderness across the state. Leaving only loud people in the cities. I have no proof to back this up.
- ebikelaw 8y ago
  Oddly, when I go hiking in the forest what often happens is I can hear two people, miles away, yapping at each other at the tops of their lungs.
  - twothamendment 8y ago
    I like the peace when hiking, except in bear country. I don't mind a loud mouth in the group so we don't sneak up on things that cause injury to life and limb.
    - torstenvl 8y ago
      A bear bell is still more pleasant than the sound of certain kinds of human voices.
- twothamendment 8y ago
  I don't know about all the quiet people, but I fall into your generalization. I'm on vacation and while I've enjoyed the places I've been I can wait to get home to some peace and quiet where I can curse my refrigerator for being so noisy. (It is just fine, but when it is all you can hear it starts to seem loud.)
toomanybeersies 8y ago

joezydeco 8y ago

We just had a thread where a famous musician made a custom soundtrack for his favorite restaurant: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17604501 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17604501 Grant Achatz went out and solicited playlist ideas from the public when opening Roister in Chicago https://chicago.eater.com/2015/11/4/9670684/roister-music-crowdsourcing https://chicago.eater.com/2015/11/4/9670684/roister-music-cr... It's simple. The music is now part of the decor. It must be heard at all costs, so up goes the volume once people fill the place. Then it becomes a positive feedback loop of people shouting to hear each other speak, volume goes up again, and everyone goes deaf.

anotherevan 8y ago

My daughter has a condition called hyperacusis[1] defined as, "an abnormal intolerance, a heightened sense of volume and physical discomfort from ordinary, everyday sounds, which other people can tolerate well." Because of this, I have become so aware of the sheer amount of noise in everyday environments. I remember sitting in a nice, peaceful environment for twenty minutes waiting for the local coffee shop to open. Come 8am they turned on the loud, thumping music. Why, why, WHY? [1] http://www.dineenwestcottmoore.com.au/specialist-services/hyperacusis-misophonia#what-is-hyperacusis http://www.dineenwestcottmoore.com.au/specialist-services/hy...

rhacker 8y ago
I wish there were more people that come to this conclusion. I can't stand busy cities anymore because music bumpers in their cars, people playing TVs loudly with their windows open, people HONKing their car to get the attention of someone in a building, people clicking their cars, people opening and closing their car doors FAR more frequently than necessary.
- insickness 8y ago
  I live in NYC. I've wear earplugs almost everywhere I go.
- tajen 8y ago
  In Sydney I would always avoid the main CBD street (George St). It’s so noisy with cars, it doesn’t only prevent people from talking, but also thinking... It’s a classical case of 3-lane street with busses going 60kmh, with glass buildings on both sides, so as a pedestrian you’re stuck in a resonnance enclosure.
avip 8y ago
Politely asking to turn down the volume is effective, and generally welcome by other customers as well.
- anotherevan 8y ago

cyberferret 8y ago

This has become my default selection criteria nowadays when choosing a cafe or restaurant to enjoy a meal or meet friends/colleagues at. No more is it about the food or coffee/tea quality. Noise levels are a critical factor. And this is coming from someone who regularly plays loud guitar on stage (though I do that with etymotic earplugs in nowadays). I hate the modern "stark industrial" design trend in modern eating establishments. All that concrete and bare wood just act as echo reflections and harmonic cacophony.

tonymet 8y ago

Noise is worsening everywhere. Gas stations and checkout queues have obnoxious ads. workplaces are built out of concrete warehouses, with open floorplans, so even a quiet conversation turns into a raucous. If sugar was the new smoking then noise is the new sugar. do what I do and keep earplugs around your neck wherever you go. they're more effective at reducing anxiety than any other remedy

BurningFrog 8y ago
I wouldn't trust my ears on this. Aging ears will tell you the world sounds worse each year.
- jimmaswell 8y ago
  Shouldn't aging ears make the world quieter over time?
  - BurningFrog 8y ago
    If you're lucky... But think tinnitus and inability to filter out background noise is often the worse of it. I'll admit to not have any deep knowledge. I do remain firmly opposed to determining noise trend in society based on sampling your own aging ears!
- criddell 8y ago
  I think he's talking about things like video screens on gas pumps that play a sports highlight, then an ad at a very loud volume.

andrewclunn 8y ago

Maybe if they turned off the damn background music!

mgleason_3 8y ago

Just got back from Italy. We hadn't really noticed the noise levels while there, but when we got back and ate out, we were like "OMG, what happened?" It was almost impossible to have a conversation. And, it seems like all of the newest restaurants are insanely loud. We went to Seasons 52 and a couple ladies at a table next to us almost knocked us out of our seats especially with their laughs and screams. But, it's funny because so many Americans think Italians are loud. They're much quieter when eating out. And other cultures, like the English and Dutch talk basically in whispers. And living in California where there's a law for everything. It's gotta be bad for your hearing. Which brings me to another question. I wonder why CALOSHA hasn't done anything about it? Maybe the same reason that the fire department doesn't do anything about all the locked doors with the sign above that says "These doors shall remain unlocked during business hours". Apparently public servants are only required enforce laws against the homeless and kids riding without helmets to junior life guards ... and people who point out stuff they're supposed to be doing...Uh oh.

mdemare 8y ago
The Dutch talk in whispers? Just ... no. (I’m Dutch). The Belgians and especially the French do talk very softly.
- rapsey 8y ago
  In comparison to americans everyone talks in whispers.
  - dazc 8y ago
    You've been to Spain?
    - dgsb 8y ago
      Yes indeed, several times. I've only travelled in NYC, but nothing really compare to the loudness I've been exposed in the there.
- 8y ago

amelius 8y ago

I usually bring a pair of bone conduction transducers, similar to the ones found in the Google Glass product. They allow me to communicate with my dining partner at a normal volume. The downside is that you hear more eating noises (chewing, etc) but you get used to that.

atomical 8y ago
What does that look like?

markatkinson 8y ago

I had to quit an exercise class to it essentially turning into a musical torture chamber. They upgraded their speaker system to mega club levels with base bins and massive hanging speakers. The volume was so loud and the music so intense I actually had to stop at times and block my ears. This sounds melodramatic but it is honestly ridiculous. After those few classes I went to I would have ringing in my ears for a few hours, and my ears would feel very blocked. I also noticed I became a lot more agitated and anxious afterwards.

DenisM 8y ago
People operating the gym have probably gone deaf, hence the need for higher volumes. Vicious cycle.
- pbhjpbhj 8y ago
  DJs often seen to have hearing problems, I don't know why specific noise limits aren't legally mandated. There's a barracks that is literally a mile away from us in our city, they had a party and the music was loud enough that it woke children in our street ... that has to be damaging prole hearing who are close-by.
  - johnchristopher 8y ago
    In Europe/Belgium there is but as you mentioned it people don't realise the dangers and basically think the government wants to prevent them from having fun. A lot of misinformation too (eg: "it's okay,above a certain threshold the ears close themselves, that's why you feel a bit deaf for a day or two after a concert).
raverbashing 8y ago
Maybe bring an earplug? (Loud sounds are not for everybody, but if you like the class but it is annoyed by the sound it could have been an option)
annamargot 8y ago
Seems like a trend with gym classes. Spin in particular. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/5/31/17393394/spinning-cycling-exercise-loud-music-hearing-loss https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/5/31/17393394/sp...

martinpw 8y ago

A few months ago I was in a pub in Cupertino (Duke of Edinburgh) and was astounded by how quiet it was. All you could hear was a murmur of conversation from nearby people. No loud music playing, no yelling or shouting. It was an incredibly pleasant experience and made me realize how miserable most pubs and restaurants are in comparison. Maybe I just got lucky that particular evening, but it really stuck in my memory as a good experience.

mrmondo 8y ago

Although young, I've found this a real problem. Many places have terrible acoustics and I totally disagree that making them better (maybe not great) is expensive - there's many simple things you can do to make a huge difference. What I struggle with is hearing the conversation with the person across the table from me, what has actually recently helped is running a device with iOS 12 (beta) and using AirPods (https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/05/live-listen-ios-12-apple-airpods/ https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/05/live-listen-ios-12-apple...) - it actually works pretty damn well, I just feel like a bit of a jerk wearing ear buds while dining / having a wine.

pasta 8y ago

There is another thing the article doesn't mention: open kitchen design. And loud machines like blenders and coffee machines.

mingabunga 8y ago
agree, nothing worse than the barista banging whatever it is to remove the coffee grounds. I know the noise is trying to create a busy buzz, but it's ridiculous after a while. Like working in a tool shop.

benzible 8y ago

Meyer Sound has a system called Constellation that as they put it "balances the buzz of a lively room so patrons don’t have to raise their voices to converse comfortably over the din, and allows the staff to control the sound level as the room’s occupancy changes." Comal in Berkeley, where I live, was the first to install it and I can attest to its effectiveness. More on this here: https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/High-tech-system-lets-restaurant-set-noise-level-3554029.php https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/High-tech-system-let...

pwaai 8y ago

sometimes I wish I could just grab something to eat and perhaps an alcoholic beverage without having to shout. Also the tipping culture in North America really needs to go. It's prohibitive. Just take a look at Asia. People eat out more because people are not tipped. Of course North America is expensive. So why not create a livable wage and happy staff? Oh right, food industry is cutt throat and low margins.

Hydraulix989 8y ago
At least here in Seoul, groceries/produce are actually more expensive than just ordering food delivery (there are many UberEATS-like competitors in Seoul because everything is so dense) or going to a restaurant.
- pwaai 8y ago
  yeah makes me wanna move there but the fine dust pollution and infrastructural safety is a concern, a result of kamikaze style growth.
  - Hydraulix989 8y ago
    In SF, it's unaffordable housing, terrible transportation, and needles everywhere. Pick your poison.
    - pwaai 8y ago
      huh? you just described vancouver. but the most expensive gas and shittiest salary in north america.

lukeylunchbox 8y ago

Restaurants are for the boring. I cannot imagine wasting an evening waiting for food. Of course these are the clientele to complain. In this case about noise...

distances 8y ago
I guess you are in your late teens or early twenties? People tend to gain more appreciation for a good conversation and high-quality food as they grow older.

marcus_holmes 8y ago

Wetherspoons pubs in the UK don't play music, as a deliberate policy, and it's one of the reasons they're so successful. It's great if you just want to drink with your friends and have a conversation. I hope more follow suit.

alkonaut 8y ago

Making a room easy to conversate in is pretty easy and cheap (carpets, curtains, ceiling tiles...). Making a room pretty is quite tricky and expensive (design of materials, architecture, ...). What’s really rare and ultra expensive is making both at once. Create a space with clean surfaces, high ceilings, etc and still manage acoustics. That’s where restaurants fail. And I get that they fail because if quiet+pretty is too expensive, then in the choice between quiet and pretty you will do better going for pretty. Because as much as people complain about noise, we never even visited the quiet place with fitted carpets and acoustic tiles. A related observation I made was that light really makes people loud. I recently had breakfast in a hotel that made an unusual design choice: a very dark candle lit space was used as the breakfast restaurant. Despite being full of people, most were naturally whispering. But light is just another design element. If you design with lots of light, you also get louder conversation (at least that is my observation based on just a few data points).

stunt 8y ago

Where is not loud anymore? It’s so noisy everywhere that people have to seek their quiet moments at home which in modern lifestyle it means using an smartphone and social networks where we can talk/hear without noise by writing/reading. While we fairly blame smarphones and social networks for changes in our families, I’m pretty sure noisy environment is one of the escalators.

chrisbennet 8y ago

I didn’t see anyone comment on this so I’ll add my 2 cents: I think that people think that if they complain that the noise is excessive that the venue will respond. I haven’t found it to be true. The blasting volume of the advertisements at the movie theater, the noisey restaurant, the freezing temperature, etc. they are probably that way for a reason i.e. it’s not an oversight they will correct now that you’ve brought it to their attention. I’ve gone to restaurants and after being seated found the conditions unpleasant enough that we get up, apologize (“it’s too cold/loud/etc”) and leave.

mirimir 8y ago

Many of my friends and I do indeed hate loud restaurants. So we sometimes wear discreet ear plugs, and pretend that we're hard of hearing. Actually, some of us are, and they just turn off their hearing aids.

learc83 8y ago

Tolerance for loud noise decreases with age for physiological reasons. It seems likely that this would explain a good bit of the anecdotal evidence supporting this.

stevetodd 8y ago

I always thought they designed them to be loud so that they could turn tables over faster. More table turnover means more revenue with little increase in cost.

Semaphor 8y ago

I wonder if this is partly because for Americans eating out is more commonplace? It's certainly a more rare thing in Germany, but afaik in the rest of the EU as well (?).

bogomipz 8y ago

I feel that noise level risen across all retail and the service industry outlets. It seems commonplace now to walk into clothing stores, drug stores or even sometimes grocery stores and the music is way too loud. I think it's part of a wider problem that either a) people might now require too much stimulation or management has concerns that there's not enough stimulation for their customers.

antibland 8y ago

As a misophonia sufferer, the acoustics of loud restaurants have, at times, caused me to walk out and eat elsewhere. If I was with company when this urge to leave happened, I would squirm and wince in my chair, toughing it out. The worst offenders to my ears are piercing, sibilant s sounds and low, loud, bassy voices. I circumvent 90% of my discomfort by wearing Airpods emitting a low dose of white noise.

enra 8y ago

The main reason I like to host people over for food or drink. You can actually properly discuss with people without shouting and distractions (waiters, other people yelling, children etc)

ahmetyas01 8y ago

It will be a hit once someone have restaurant with be quite policy. :)

infectoid 8y ago

I have been trying out SoundPrint to profile good and bad places to go for those of us with a low tolerance for loud music while trying to socialise. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundprint-find-a-quiet-spot/id971189322 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundprint-find-a-quiet-spot... Not sure if it's available on Android but I"m sure there is something similar.