Binaural dissimilarity and optimum ceilings for concert halls: More lateral sound diffusion

Ceiling shapes for concert halls are proposed that, on the basis of prior extensive subjective evaluations, should result in high listener preference of the hall’s acpistoca; response to music. These shapes are based on the premise that as little as possible of the early sound energy should arrive at a listener’s ears in the ’’median’’ plane (the vertical symmetry plane through the listener). While this goal is inherently approached in old-style, high-and-narrow halls, its realization in modern, low-ceiling halls requires special ceiling shapes and surface structures to keep early, median-plane sound away from the listener’s ears.