Auditory Spatial Impression in Concert Halls

This chapter discusses the acoustics of concert halls from the viewpoint of binaural perception. It explains how early reflections have a crucial role in the quality of sound, perceived dynamics, and timbre. In particular, the directions from which these reflections reach the listener are important for human spatial hearing. The chapter has strong links to psychoacoustical phenomena, such as the precedence effect, binaural loudness, and spaciousness. The chapter discusses which aspects of a concert hall give listeners the impression of intimacy and the perception of proximity to the sound. Moreover, it is explained how a concert hall can change the perceived dynamics of a music ensemble. Examples are presented using measured data from real concert halls.