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How the color of a theater affects sound perception
Researchers found darker concert halls increased music liking while cooler, more saturated colors evoked colder perceived sound timbre among listeners using binaural headphone technology.
- Researchers found that hall color influences perceived timbre and liking, published in JASA on February 24, 2026.
- Faced with practical limits, the researchers used virtual reality platforms with simulated venues to test visual effects, as previous studies on lighting left unclear if visuals change sound impressions.
- Participants listened to four recorded performances—two violin, two clarinet—and rated liking, strength, reverberance, and timbre in 12 colored virtual halls via binaural headphones.
- Design guidance for concert halls includes considering visual appearance, as Weinzierl said, `If you design a concert hall, don't forget to think about the visual appearance.`
- The results could influence concert-hall and VR design because color alters perceived timbre and audience liking, with stronger effects for listeners with musical experience, researchers said.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Color plays an unsung role in how we enjoy concerts
A well-designed theater requires far more than simply installing a stage and seating inside of a cavernous room. The best venues are carefully constructed using a mix of materials that address spatial considerations while maximizing the overall sound. But as a study published today in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America indicates, there is another element that often affects how much you enjoy a show: color. “Room acoustics perceptio…
How the color of a theater affects sound perception
Live music can engage more than just one sense, despite it being an auditory medium. Lighting and visual effects can enhance the listening experience, but it is unclear if they can also affect the impression of the sound. In a study appearing in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, researchers from Germany's Technical University of Berlin found that the color of a concert hall has an impact on the sound perception of a listener.
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