diff --git a/src/codal_app/microbithal.h b/src/codal_app/microbithal.h
index 09ecb52..ac60201 100644
--- a/src/codal_app/microbithal.h
+++ b/src/codal_app/microbithal.h
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ int microbit_hal_compass_get_heading(void);
 void microbit_hal_microphone_init(void);
 void microbit_hal_microphone_set_threshold(int kind, int value);
 int microbit_hal_microphone_get_level(void);
+float microbit_hal_microphone_get_level_db(void);
 
 const uint8_t *microbit_hal_get_font_data(char c);
 
diff --git a/src/codal_app/microbithal_microphone.cpp b/src/codal_app/microbithal_microphone.cpp
index 0cceb16..e530432 100644
--- a/src/codal_app/microbithal_microphone.cpp
+++ b/src/codal_app/microbithal_microphone.cpp
@@ -59,4 +59,11 @@ int microbit_hal_microphone_get_level(void) {
     return value;
 }
 
+float microbit_hal_microphone_get_level_db(void) {
+    uBit.audio.levelSPL->setUnit(LEVEL_DETECTOR_SPL_DB);
+    float value = uBit.audio.levelSPL->getValue();
+    uBit.audio.levelSPL->setUnit(LEVEL_DETECTOR_SPL_8BIT);
+    return value;
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/src/codal_port/microbit_microphone.c b/src/codal_port/microbit_microphone.c
index 338f2e0..cf37069 100644
--- a/src/codal_port/microbit_microphone.c
+++ b/src/codal_port/microbit_microphone.c
@@ -109,6 +109,13 @@ static mp_obj_t microbit_microphone_sound_level(mp_obj_t self_in) {
 }
 static MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(microbit_microphone_sound_level_obj, microbit_microphone_sound_level);
 
+static mp_obj_t microbit_microphone_sound_level_db(mp_obj_t self_in) {
+    (void)self_in;
+    microphone_init();
+    return mp_obj_new_float_from_f(microbit_hal_microphone_get_level_db());
+}
+static MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(microbit_microphone_sound_level_db_obj, microbit_microphone_sound_level_db);
+
 static mp_obj_t microbit_microphone_current_event(mp_obj_t self_in) {
     (void)self_in;
     microphone_init();
@@ -154,6 +161,7 @@ static MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(microbit_microphone_get_events_obj, microbit_mi
 static const mp_rom_map_elem_t microbit_microphone_locals_dict_table[] = {
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_set_threshold), MP_ROM_PTR(&microbit_microphone_set_threshold_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_sound_level), MP_ROM_PTR(&microbit_microphone_sound_level_obj) },
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_sound_level_db), MP_ROM_PTR(&microbit_microphone_sound_level_db_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_current_event), MP_ROM_PTR(&microbit_microphone_current_event_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_is_event), MP_ROM_PTR(&microbit_microphone_is_event_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_was_event), MP_ROM_PTR(&microbit_microphone_was_event_obj) },