Acoustic Parameters in concert halls

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This page is dedicated to room acoustical parameters for concert halls. Sound examples with corresponding values are presented on the akuTEK demo page Reverberant Space.

Parameters

Parameters suggested as international standard, e.g. ISO 3382-1

Reverberation time (RT) is an important global parameter describing the overall acoustical properties of a hall, even if it in the ISO 3382 is not associated with any of the five listener-specific aspects (above). It can be shown that statistically, EDT, G, C and LG are dependent of RT, source-receiver distance and hall volume.

Concert Hall Parameters and concert hall preference IOA Dublin 2011 poster

Concert Hall Parameters - We still haven’t found what we’re looking for IOA Dublin 2011 paper

Room acoustical parameters at listeners’ ears—can preferred concert hall acoustics be predicted and explained? (ICA 2010 preprint) by M Skålevik

Reverberation Time—the mother of all room acoustical parameters (BNAM 2010 paper) (presentation)

J Bradley: Using ISO 3382 measures, and their extensions, to evaluate acoustical conditions in concert halls

M Barron: Using the standard on objective measures for concert auditoria, ISO 3382, to give reliable results

L Beranek: “Subjective rank-orderings and measurements of 58 concert halls”

L Beranek: “Concert Hall Acoustics 2008”

Mike Barron reports that subjective level of sound (loudness) relates to distance. Paper. Presentation

Sound Strength in Small Halls by J Hyde and H Möller

M Skålevik: Presentation of the paper Room acoustic parameters - distribution over the concert hall seating area.
M Barron: Presentation of the paper Objective assessment of concert hall acoustics.

Behaviour of lateral energy in small concert halls by H Möller and J Hyde (2007)

Reverberation can be visualized with the Audio Camera. External link: Visualizing Concert Hall Reverberation

A Buen: Early Design Criteria for Multipurpose Cultural Houses (paper) (presentation)

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Subjective listener aspect	Acoustic quality	Single number frequency averaging (Hz)	Just Noticeable Difference (JND)	Typical range*
Subjective level of sound	Sound Strength, G, in dB	500 to 1000	1 dB	-2 dB; +10 dB
Perceived reverberance	Early Decay Time, EDT, in s	500 to 1000	Rel. 5%	1.0s; 3.0s
Perceived clarity of sound	Clarity, C₈₀, in dB Definition, D₅₀ Centre Time, T_s, in ms	500 to 1000 500 to 1000 500 to 1000	1dB 0.05 10ms	-5 dB; +5 dB 0.3; 0.7 60 ms; 260 ms
Apparent Source Width, ASW	Early Lateral Energy Fraction LF or LFC	125 to 1000	0.05	0.05; 0.35
Listeners Envelopement	Late Lateral Sound Level, LG in dB	125 to 1000	Not known	-14 dB; +1 dB
Ensemble conditions**	Early Support, ST_Early (dB)	250 to 2000	Not known	-24 dB; -8dB
Perceived reverberance**	Late Support, ST_Late (dB)	250 to 2000	Not known	-24dB; -10dB
* Typical range is for averaged values in single positions in auditorium of non-occupied concert– and multi-purpose halls up to 25000 m³ . ** Performers listener aspect, on orchestra platform. See also Stage Acoustics.