Keyword:
Parameters of room acoustics

The best-known parameter in acoustics/room acoustics is the reverberation time, which is the time it takes for the sound pressure level of a sound event in a room to decrease by 60 dB, i.e., to one thousandth of the initial sound pressure. The reverberation time is generally determined in octave bands or third-octave bands. If only one reverberation time value is specified, this refers to the reverberation time at 1000 Hz or 500 Hz. The aim of room acoustics is to tailor a room as closely as possible to its intended purpose and the existing communication scenario. However, designing the room acoustics of rooms with higher requirements requires more than just considering the reverberation time. For example, office spaces are not qualified by a target reverberation time. In these rooms, which also include corridors, ticket halls, call centers, libraries, and healthcare facilities, the quantity and arrangement of sound-absorbing surfaces is of utmost importance for the listening experience and the acoustic environment. The acoustic quality of a room in terms of speech intelligibility is referred to as audibility. Standardized syllable intelligibility tests are used to determine audibility. For music performances in particular, room acoustics are optimized not only by installing sound absorbers but also by installing diffusers. These scatter the sound field in such a way that better perception is possible without over-insulation. In addition, the use of electroacoustic reverberation extension systems is also recommended.