Rumsklingning

Rumsklingning is a Swedish term that broadly denotes the acoustic behavior of an enclosed space, especially the way sound persists, reflects or resonates after being produced. The word can be translated literally as “room ringing” and is used to describe phenomena that in English are called reverberation, echo and room resonance. It encompasses both the temporal decay of sound and the frequency-dependent coloration that a room imparts.

Causes of rumsklingning include the size and shape of the room, the reflectivity and absorption properties of surfaces, and the presence of furniture and people. Parallel walls, hard flat surfaces and concave shapes tend to increase reverberation and create distinct resonant modes. Measurement and characterization typically use metrics such as reverberation time (for example RT60) and frequency response; empirical formulas (e.g., Sabine's) and modern measurement systems are commonly employed.

The perceptual effects range from beneficial warmth and sustain for musical performance to reduced speech intelligibility and unwanted booming in small spaces. Architectural design, audio engineering and room treatment practices address rumsklingning according to the room’s intended use: concert halls often aim for controlled reverberance, while classrooms and recording studios seek low reverberation and even frequency response.

Mitigation and adjustment methods include adding absorptive materials, diffusers, bass traps and strategic furnishing, as well as altering room geometry. Understanding rumsklingning is important for architects, sound engineers and facility managers concerned with acoustic comfort and performance.