Subjective evaluation of acoustic properties of concert halls based on their impulse response

Authors:

• Edward Hojan

Abstract

Impulse responses, binaurally recorded using an artificial head, of six European concert halls have been convolved with selected signals of music and speech. Acoustic signals thus obtained have been evaluated subjectively. Questionnaire techniques with semantic differential scales have been used that reflect four perceptual attributes: “clarity,” “sharpness of localization,” “spaciousness,” and “overall impression.” The greatest correlation among perceptual attributes has been obtained between sharpness of localization and clarity and the smallest for spaciousness and overall impression. In the ranking of concert halls, the highest rank has been awarded to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. © 1990, Acoustical Society of America. All rights reserved.