Resonance and Noise in Horeca Space: How Ambient Noise Can Affect Enjoyment and Conviviality

1. Difficulty in Hearing

Resonance is one of the factors that can cause difficulties in hearing and understanding dialogue between individuals. Indeed, sound reverberation can distort direct sounds, making exchanges harder to follow. Customers may feel compelled to raise their voices to be heard, thus causing a higher reverberation rate, which can harm the conviviality and understanding in the restaurant.

2. Lombard Effect

The Lombard effect is the phenomenon where speakers raise their voices to compensate for surrounding noise in order to be heard and understood. A problematic effect in a restaurant, as once several people raise their voices, others typically do the same.

3. Auditory Fatigue

Auditory fatigue occurs when noise nuisances are too high or if reverberation is too significant. Acoustic discomfort would thus make the overall experience less enjoyable and stressful. This may lead customers to associate this experience with negative emotions and be less inclined to return to the establishment or recommend it to others.

4. Poor Sound Quality of Background Music

In restaurants, background music is often used to create a pleasant environment. However, the sound quality of the music could be poor in the case of sound reverberation, thus causing an adverse effect on the overall experience.

In conclusion, resonance can have a negative impact on ambient noise in restaurants. Fortunately, there are acoustic solutions to mitigate its undesirable effects. Restaurant owners can invest in absorbent frames, suspended panels, soundproof partitions, as well as decorative elements such as rugs, curtains, and cushions to improve acoustics.

Dabso is one of these acoustic solutions. Dabso acoustic frames can help reduce excessive noise reverberations with its frame that can be placed on walls and ceilings, thus allowing customers the freedom to speak without having to raise their voices.

By creating a pleasant sound ambiance, restaurants can enhance their customers' experience and foster positive reviews and recommendations.