The acoustic quality of a concert hall has frequently poseda mysterious puzzle, namely, what physical aspects of thesound field can produce superior sound for the listener. Theauthor has been probing for more than adecade into thesubjective qualities preferred for musical and speechsounds. The result of his extensive investigations - thediscovery that four and only four independent parameterscontribute effectively to good acoustics - is summarized inthe present book. The capability of calculating acousticalquality at any seat in a proposed concert hall is a uniqueand quite useful aspect of Ando's design method. Alternativearchitectural schemes can be compared based on the number ofseats which exceeds a previously accepted minimum standardof acoustical quality.

1. Introduction.- 2. Sound Transmission Systems.- 2.1 Source Signals in Terms of the Autocorrelation Function.- 2.2 Reflection from Finite Surfaces.- 2.3 Reflection from a Periodic Structure of a Wall.- 2.4 Scattering by Diffusing Walls.- 2.5 Physical Hearing System.- 2.6 Nervous System.- 3. Simulation of Sound Fields.- 3.1 Signals at Both Ears.- 3.2 Simulation of Sound Localization.- 3.3 Simulation of Sound Fields in Concert Halls.- 4. Subjective Preference Judgments.- 4.1 Linear Scale Value of Preference.- 4.2 Sound Fields with Single and Multiple Early Reflections.- 4.3 Sound Fields with Early Reflections and Subsequent Reverberation.- 5. Prediction of Subjective Preference in Concert Halls.- 5.1 Model of Auditory Pathways.- 5.2 Optimum Design Objectives.- 5.3 Theory of Subjective Preference.- 5.4 Calculating Subjective Preference for a Concert Hall.- 6. Design Study.- 6.1 Walls and Ceiling.- 6.2 Floor and Seats.- 6.3 Stage Enclosure.- 6.4 Concert Halls.- 7. Acoustic Test Techniques for Concert Halls.- 7.1 Transfer Function or Impulse Response Measurements.- 7.2 Reverberation.- 7.3 Interaural Cross Correlation.- 7.4 Subjective Preference Judgments of Sound Fields in Existing Concert Halls.- Appendices.- A. Subjective Diffuseness.- B. An Example of Individual Difference in Preference Judgment.- C. Perception of Coloration.- D. Correlation Functions at Both Ears.- E. Computation Programs for the Fast Method of Measuring Impulse Responses (Computer: Univac 1100/83; ASCII FORTRAN Compiler, ANSI STANDARD X3.9 -1978).- Glossary of Symbols.- References.