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High levels of broadband random noise are generally required for conducting sound transmission loss and sound absorption tests within reverberation rooms. However, the sound system components such as loudspeakers, amplifiers, and other elements are often selected with little consideration of the audio engineering principles that govern device as well as system operation. This paper will explore some of the requirements for reverberation room sound systems starting with the acoustical power spectrum needed to overcome the transmission loss of high performance barrier assemblies, the background noise in the receiving room, the background noise floor of measuring instruments, and air absorption within the reverberation room.

High levels of broadband sound are generally required for sound transmission loss and sound absorption tests conducted within reverberation rooms. However, the sound system components such as loudspeakers are often selected with little consideration or knowledge of the audio engineering principles that govern system operation. This paper will address the selection of a loudspeaker system for producing the required sound level in a reverberation room, starting with the sound level requirements in a test room, and a brief review of the fundamental concepts of loudspeakers, including horn loading and compression drivers, radiation efficiency, directivity, power ratings and limits, thermal compression, crossovers, equalization, and spectral balancing resistors. Loudspeaker manufacturer's specification data, such as 1 watt/meter sensitivity, directivity index Q, and power ratings will then be discussed.