Speech intelligibility improvements of a small performing arts theater using absorptive panels

摘要

This paper presents a case study of improving speech intelligibility of a 300 seat performing artstheater. The theater is used for plays, musicals, concerts, and seminars. The currentreverberation nature of the theater is optimal for music but makes speech difficult to understand.The acoustic environment of the theater was characterized with respect to its reverberation timealong with speech intelligibility metrics. This characterization was used in the design andimplementation of a solution, which consisted of absorptive panels that were hung on the upperside and back walls of the theater. The improvements to speech intelligibility and changes to theacoustic environment of the theater were quantified after the installation of the treatments.