Schallfeld

Schallfeld is a German term meaning sound field. In acoustics and related engineering disciplines, it denotes the spatial distribution of acoustic energy, describing how sound pressure, particle velocity, and phase vary across a region of space over time. The concept covers propagating waves in free space as well as the complex field created by reflections, diffraction, and diffusion within rooms or other enclosures.

In a room, the Schallfeld is determined by the positions of sound sources, boundary conditions (walls, floors, ceilings), material properties (absorption, scattering), and geometric features. It influences audible properties such as loudness, tonal balance, stereo imaging, and reverberation. Engineers aim to shape the Schallfeld to meet design goals, for example by ensuring even coverage in a concert hall or reducing problematic hotspots in an office.

Measurement and analysis: to characterize a Schallfeld, engineers use microphones, arrays, and signal processing to map pressure or velocity fields. Computational methods such as ray tracing, finite element, or boundary element methods simulate the field and predict performance. In practice, measurement and modeling help design sound reinforcement systems, optimize room acoustics, and support noise control and product development.

The term is also used more generally in acoustics education to describe the distribution of sound energy in a given environment or around a source, and it is closely related to related concepts such as sound pressure level, reverberation time, and acoustical impedance.