What is Reddit's opinion of VLIKE Noise Sound Level Meter, Digital Decibel Meter with LCD, Audio Measurement 30 dB to 130 dB, DB Meter with A and C Frequency Weighting for Sound Level Testing?

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Get an SLP Meter (Sound Pressure Level or Loudness) and use it to measure the actual level.

Here is the SPL Meter I have -

https://www.amazon.com/VLIKE-Digital-Measurement-Frequency-Weighting/dp/B071J17TKL/

Although this one is probably good enough -

https://www.amazon.com/Cadrim-Digital-Sound-Level-Meter/dp/B07YZLZTCF/

Most of these devices have Weighting which controls the frequency response -

A Weight = 500hz to 8000hz

C weight = 30hz to 8000hz

You want to set it to C Weight to make sure you get the bass response.

Most also have Fast and Slow Response.

A person would use A-Weight and Slow Response if they are measuring general noise like a crowd or an industrial setting. Where you just need the noise level but don't care about frequency response.

However, for Music, you want C-Weight and Fast response.

Next time he is blaring music, measure next to his house, measure next to your house, and measure in your bedroom. Keep in mind many room have a 60db to 70db random noise level. So you are looking for reading higher than that.

Most cities have ordinances that give a limit to how much noise a person can make and at what times. And it seem that this person is frequently exceeding those limits.

As others have said, Bass really penetrates. It has a lot of power behind it, and while Mid and High get lost, Bass has the power to travel.

From what I can determine, you are not even asking him to stop, just ease up on the Bass so you can sleep. That seems pretty reasonable.

I would suggest you keep a log for a week or whatever, to get at least half a dozen or more instances. Record all these, then you will have something to show to the Police - Dates, Times, Readings.

If you call the police at 1 AM for a noise complaint, this is going to be a low priority call. So they are not going to respond in a timely fashion, and there is no telling if he will still be playing music when they get there.

But if you can bring them some documentation accumulated over time, they might have something to go on, and might cruise by your house one night and catch him in the act.

If nothing else, you can present them with documented evidence.

Also keep in mind that loudness is not linear. It is more like the Richter Earthquake scale, 8 is not twice as bad as 4, it is ten times as bad.

As I said, if you use the meter in the day time in a quiet room, it would not be uncommon to get 60db to 65db of residual noise - wind, traffic, kids, computer fans, refrigerator, air conditioning, etc... Though at night it might be quieter.

I Typically listen to music in my house at 70db to 75db. A typical loud movie can average about 80db to 85db. When you start approaching 90db to 100db, you are getting into industrial hearing protection territory.

Hope that helps.