Perception of reverberation length in rooms with reverberation enhancement systems

Abstract

This study examined the perception of reverberation length in rooms equipped with a reverberation enhancement system (RES). In the past, many acousticians have studied the correlation between subjective reverberation ratings and objective criteria in concert halls; the effect of RES on these ratings has not been thoroughly investigated. The decay of acoustic energy in rooms with RES has double-slope characteristics, which is different from most impulse responses recorded in rooms without such a system. The study showed a difference in the evaluation of perceived stop-chord and running reverberation length. The results also suggest that not only the initial part, but also the latter part of the impulse response should be considered when evaluating the perception of reverberation length. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between subjective perception and objective measures of reverberation length and provide insight into the perceptual evaluation of acoustic environments.