Golden Ratio

As first determined by the ancient Greeks, the Golden Ratio is a theoretical ratio for room dimensions that results in “”perfect”” room acoustics. This means that no matter where you are in a room, the sound will be balanced and natural, with little interference from standing waves or ringing that may occur in less-than-ideal rooms. The ratio, named phi, of height to width to length of a room to achieve optimal sound in a room is approximately the width 1.6 times the height and the length 2.6 times the height, and was named for the Greek sculptor Phidias. In theory, minimal acoustic treatment should be needed in a room with dimension ratios that matched the formula. However, it may be desirable to acoustically treat one end of the “Golden” room, to be able to have a place in the room where there are fewer reflections, resulting in a less “”live” sound. If it’s not possible to have a room that fits the ratio perfectly, there are ways to achieve similar results. For example, if a room should have a 5-foot ceiling to match the ratio of the wall length and width, apply acoustic treatment to the walls above five feet.