Handbook for Sound Engineers, 4th Edition

Chapter 7

Acoustics for Auditoriums and Concert Halls

by Dr. Wolfgang Ahnert and Hans-Peter Tennhardt

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Room-Acoustical Criteria, Requirements

7.2.1 Time Criteria

7.2.1.1 Reverberation Time RT₆₀

7.2.1.2 Bass Ratio (BR) (Beranek)

7.2.2 Energy Criteria

7.2.2.1 Strength Measure (G) (P. Lehmann)

7.2.2.2 Sound Pressure Distribution (ΔL)

7.2.2.3 Interaural Cross-Correlation Coefficient (IACC)

7.2.2.4 Center Time (ts) (Kürer)

7.2.2.5 Echo Criterion (EK) (Dietsch)

7.2.2.6 Definition Measure C₅₀ for Speech (Ahnert)

7.2.2.7 Speech Transmission Index (STI) (Houtgast, Steeneken)

7.2.2.8 Articulation Loss, Alcons, with Speech (Peutz, Klein)

7.2.2.9 Subjective Intelligibility Tests

7.2.2.10 Clarity Measure (C80) for Music (Abdel Alim)