Five acoustical parameters-reverberation time RT, early decay time EDT, clarity C80, strength G, and interaural cross-correlation coefficient IACC-were measured using identical procedures with and without audiences in six concert and opera halls. Reverberation times without audiences were measured in 15 additional halls using the same measuring techniques as for the six halls above, but for ful...

Subjective evaluation of acoustics was studied by recording nine concert halls with a simulated symphony orchestra on a seat 12 m from the orchestra. The recorded music was spatially reproduced for subjective listening tests and individual vocabulary profiling. In addition, the preferences of the assessors and objective parameters were gathered. The results show that concert halls were discrimi...

Ceiling shapes for concert halls are proposed that, on the basis of prior extensive subjective evaluations, should result in high listener preference of the hall's acpistoca; response tomusic. These shapes are based on the premise that as little as possible of the early sound energy should arrive at a listener's ears in the "median" plane (the vertical symmetry plane through the listener). Whil...