Suitability of HI-FI sound systems in measurements of reverberation time in domestic multi-media rooms

Reverberation time measurements are taken as part of the acoustic design of residential performance rooms such as home cinemas, listening rooms and studios This study examines the suitability of using Hi-Fi sound systems for the reverberation time measurements in domestic multi-media rooms Seven residential rooms were measured for reverberation time (T20) following ISO 3382-02-2008 using in turn a dodecahedron source, and Hi-Fi loudspeakers as the excitation sound sources. Tests used gated pink noise as well as integrated impulse response methods and results were compared. Overall T20 results from both sound sources agreed within 5% from 500Hz upwards, remaining very closely aligned as the frequency increased. A discrepancy of around 10% was observed between results obtained from both methods regardless of sound source employed This study showed that Hi-Fi loudspeakers can be a suitable and reliable sound source for reverberation time measurements in multi-media domestic rooms. This finding can give confidence in the use of existing Hi-Fi loudspeakers installed in domestic rooms to aid in their interior acoustic design.