The Listening Room

The Listening Room offers clients the opportunity to experience the acoustics of rooms and other environments before they have been built. We currently have these facilities set up in our Auckland, Christchurch, Melbourne and Wellington offices.

Our Listening Room facilities utilise the latest in 3D sound reproduction technology, a 13-speaker array and virtual reality to provide a truly immersive acoustic experience. This offers clients an exceptional insight into the acoustic advantages of different room treatment options and design scenarios. With this tool we can express the true value of acoustics in a more engaging and relatable way than simple reporting or discussions can offer.

Examples of applications include:

  • Listening to a simulated performance in an auditorium before it has been built

  • Traffic noise from a proposed road

  • Aircraft flyover from a new runway

  • Wind turbine noise from a proposed wind farm

  • Speech privacy between two rooms

  • Comparing construction methodology options

 

How does it work?

The Listening Room is well isolated from external sounds and includes a low noise ventilation system. Internal surfaces are treated to eliminate reverberation to ensure that the 3D sound field is unaffected by room acoustics. Accurate calibration and measurement of the full audio system ensures acoustic accuracy in the demonstrations.

 

An immersive experience

The interaction of sound and vision is important to the overall experience. To enable full immersion, we use a Virtual Reality (VR) headset. Virtual models or 360 degree video/photos are used to ensure the visual experience matches the auralisation.

Measurable success

The Listening Room is a natural extension of the MDA developed IRIS measurement system which captures and evaluates 3D sound fields. IRIS measurements can be used by The Listening Room to simulate real spaces as well as evaluate the effectiveness of the reproduction system.

 

Vibration Platform

Explaining vibration effects to clients can be a challenge, so we developed an exciting new way to communicate this. The Auckland office Listening Room has a calibrated vibrating platform, complementing the 3D sound reproductions and VR rig. We can now offer a totally immersive acoustic experience, including vibrations as they would be experienced in the real world.

Environmental noise sources, like construction machinery, trains, and trucks produce both noise and vibration. When listening to these, it can be difficult to separate noise from vibration - especially at low frequencies where we feel sound rather than hearing it. With the vibration rig, we can accurately and realistically reproduce vibration, providing a valuable tool for making design decisions about amenity, or understanding potential construction effects.

Project Case Study - Auckland War Memorial Museum

We asked Xigo, Project Managers for the Auckland War Memorial Museum to comment on their experience of the Listening Room:

''Marshall Day Acoustics was commissioned by the Auckland War Memorial Museum to prepare an acoustic study of the south atrium space in order to test potential acoustic treatment options. This involved the use of a tool called ‘Listening Room’ providing the client the opportunity to sit in a Virtual Reality modelled version of the south atrium space. This enabled virtual modelling of acoustic scenarios within the space, that were able to be played alongside the application of differing levels of acoustic treatment.

The ability for the client to gauge the effectiveness of these scenarios was exceptional. The study enabled the client to nominate the exact level of acoustic performance to be incorporated into the building design and provided them with the required reassurance regarding a 'pivotal public experience environment' within the museum.'' -

James Brodie, Senior Project Manager at Xigo