How Do I Get Better Acoustics in an Auditorium?

Great acoustics are important in any space, but they are especially crucial (and challenging) in school auditoriums and lecture halls, where the size of the room itself and the audience within it often call for an extensive acoustic treatment.

Here are some tips to make sure you're getting the best sound possible in your auditorium:

1. Pay Attention to Speaker Placement

If you're using speakers in your auditorium, placement is everything. Speakers positioned too close to walls or corners can reflect off those surfaces to create muddy sound, while speakers not strategically angled toward the audience can result in dead zones where the sound is not being clearly heard.

If possible, set up your sound amplification system so speakers are even with the ear level of the seated audience. Also consider placing additional speakers towards the rear of the auditorium so those in the back rows don't miss out.

2. Install Sound-Absorbing Acoustic Panels

The large walls and high ceilings of an auditorium can easily result in sound waves reflecting off those surfaces to create echoes and reverb. Acoustic panels can be installed along the side walls and back wall of the auditorium to absorb these echoes and reverberations to improve sound clarity.

Fabric Acoustic Panels are especially excellent for high-traffic areas such as auditoriums due to their durability (they can also be cleaned or vaccuumed to remove dust and soil buildup). If you're looking for acoustic panels that blend in with the interior of your auditorium, our AcoustiColor® panels can be coated to match any paint color from Sherwin-Williams.



If your auditorium has a very high ceiling or limited wall space, acoustic ceiling applications such as clouds, baffles, or direct mount tiles can help absorb the sound from above.

3. Incorporate Other Sound-Absorbing Furnishings

Acoustic panels aren't the only things that can absorb sound! Anything that's thick and porous can trap sound waves. For auditoriums, the addition of carpeting, curtains, or upholstered seating will help soak up echoes and reverb.

The bigger the space, the bigger the acoustic challenges can be! But with strategic speaker placement and sound-absorbing fixtures, you can make sure the sound in your auditorium is sharp and clear from the front row all the way to the back.