What roll do Room Dimensions play in the way a room "Sounds"?

[@johndavis1070]

Great information, helped me so much!

[@NGAcoustics]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@komoru]

After having owned a 9' concert grand piano, I can can certainly say that the room is an EXTENSION of the instrument. And wall/ceiling treatment can be to suit your taste as to how "live" you want the room to sound. I've built my own small "room within a room" soundproof practice room which didn't have the best acoustics, but I knew that going in. I also wanted to not take $20,000+ to do it and also did not want to spend 6-9 months of my life building it. It also had to be portable so it was a compromise. What I've learned with acoustics is generally the bigger the space you can put your studio/rehersal space into, and the higher the ceilings, the better the sound will be, as long as your budget and current building/home/rental space allows for it. I.e. most people trying to retrofit a recording studio or rehearsal space into a residential setting will be constrained by ceiling height and room length/width since most folks are not going to have the luxury of having a 5000 square foot distribution-style warehouse which have 24-40 foot tall ceilings,.

[@NGAcoustics]

Thanks for the insight! This is all very true, ESPECIALLY for acoustic pianos.

[@basscleaner]

No doubts, room dimensions are critically important for good sound reproduction, especially for low frequencies. Nevertheless, if we have the limited space of variables, which fully determine the sound result, it means, that among possible room dimensions for known low frequencies source position (height) there are the best, the worst and medium sets of such a room dimensions. The best room dimensions set for low frequencies is understood like for having minimal spread for amplitude-frequency dependence in range 20 - 150 Hz. Corresponding to this thesis, we can have (or not!) so-called Acoustical Dimensions for this room. Do you agree?

[@NGAcoustics]

Absolutely, I agree with your perspective. Room dimensions play a pivotal role in sound reproduction, particularly in the critical low-frequency ranges. The interplay between room dimensions, speaker placement, and listener position can greatly influence how sound waves interact within a space. When we talk about the "best" room dimensions (for low frequencies) we are indeed referring to configurations that minimize problems like standing waves, resonance, and amplitude variations across the frequency spectrum - especially in the 20-150 Hz range. These ideal dimensions can help achieve a more balanced and even frequency response, which is essential for accurate sound reproduction. The concept of Acoustical Dimensions you mentioned aligns with this idea. Essentially, it suggests that certain dimensions will yield better acoustic performance by optimizing the room's modal characteristics. By selecting dimensions that promote favorable interactions between sound waves, you can reduce problematic resonances and improve clarity and definition in the low-frequency range. Which is exactly why we made our Rooms Dimensions Cheat Sheet: www.nextgenerationacoustics.com/products/room-dimensions-cheat-sheet Our cheat sheet is designed to be easy to use and understand, with a color-coded system to help you quickly identify good, cautionary, and poor dimensions. It's a must-have whether you're setting up a home theater, recording studio, or simply want to reduce echoes and reverb before you choose a studio room or build a new living room! Our download will help you optimize the acoustics of your room BEFORE you get in too deep! In practice, while it may not always be feasible to design a room with ideal dimensions, understanding these acoustical principles allows for better planning and treatment strategies. This knowledge can/should guide decisions about speaker and listener placement, as well as the use of acoustic treatments (like bass traps and acoustic panels) to mitigate the effects of less-than-ideal room dimensions. Striving for optimal room dimensions and understanding the acoustical characteristics of your space are crucial steps in achieving high-quality sound reproduction.