Echoes, reverberation, speech intelligibility and musical performance

Seven auditoriums with poor acoustical performance are named and discussed. The most significant difficulty in these seven auditoriums is auditory backward inhibition causing poor ensemble. The cause is the geometry of the ceiling. Auditory backward inhibition also disturbs individual musical performers. Designing concert halls on the basis of reverberation time theory has led to numerous acoustical disasters. The highest priority in concert hall design is the comfort of the musical performers. Stage p.a. systems often contribute to poor musical ensemble and performance.