Comparison of impulse sources used in reverberation time measurements

Impulse-like sources are often used to perform quick measurements of reverberation time, especially if high values of sound pressure levels are required. This papers describes a part of an ongoing research on reverberation time measurements concerning the acoustic features of impulse-like sources, although the relevant standards state that such kind of sources should be avoided due to the lack of measurement repeatability. Nevertheless, the conventional omni-directional loudspeakers are often unable to provide adequate sound pressure levels, especially at the low end of the frequency range of interest, thereby ensuring sufficient dynamic range. Therefore, the emphasis of this investigation has been made on peak sound pressure levels and the amount of low frequency content each source is able to provide. The investigated sources include balloons, 6 mm signal pistols, firecrackers with different amount of explosive compound and explosive mixtures of acetylene gas.