Changes in subjective acoustical indicators in halls with long and short reverberation times

Abstract

Investigations of acoustics of halls of different types and volumes have disclosed good or acceptable values of the music sound clarity index C₈₀, while the reverberation times of these halls were found to be either very short or very long. Subjectively, the acoustics of these halls are considered to be unsatisfactory. For example, the reverberation time measured in the hall of the Vilnius Opera and Ballet Theatre is about 1 s, while the values of the C"_n index are either good or acceptable. A church the volume of which is 22 650 m³ has acceptable C₈₀ values both in the performers's places and in the front rows. Similar results were obtained in other halls too.

First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010

Keyword : “Clarity” index C80, reverberation time, absorption, early energy, late energy, sound reflections