ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some practical aspects of room acoustics, namely the acoustical design of auditoria in which some kind of performance lectures, music, theatre, etc. is to be presented to an audience, or of spaces in which the reduction of noise levels is the main interest. Its contents are not just an extension of fundamental laws and scientific insights towards the practical world, nor are they a collection of guidelines and rules deduced from them. In fact, the reader should be aware that the art of room acoustical design is only partially based on theoretical considerations and that it cannot be learned from this or any other book, but that successful work in this field requires considerable practical experience. A noise level reduction by just a few decibels can increase the acoustical comfort to an amazing degree. If the sound level is too high due to insufficient absorption, people will talk more loudly than in a quieter environment.
