The Anechoic Chamber

The study of speech requires the availability of a recording environment with very low ambient noise and reflected sound. An anechoic chamber is a room in which the walls,ceiling and floor are lined with a sound absorbent material to minimise reflections. The research anechoic chamber is lined with glass-fibre wedges whose shape enables free-field conditions to exist above 90Hz. In addition the chamber is constructed as a room within a room. The outer walls are 330mm thick and the inner room is formed of metallic acoustic panels mounted on a floating floor. This results in a very low noise environment in which the sound pressure due to outside levels is below the threshold of hearing. The chamber is equipped with a Bruel & Kjaer 2231 Sound Level Meter and Laryngograph. Signals are routed to an adjacent control room containing a Sony DAT recorder and a PC. A prompting system is available for presentation of the recording material on a ceiling mounted monitor.

A more extensive technical description of the chamber is also available.

Hire this room

This room is available for hire. The charge is £65 per hour for commercial companies and £45 per hour for academic institutions.
Technical assistance can also be provided at £50 per hour.

Please contact Steve Nevard ( ) for more information.