A recent survey among concertgoers found that smaller, older halls sound better for symphony orchestras, as compared to bigger, modern ones. What is/are the reason(s) for this?

Question

Accepted Answer

A: Smaller halls are better able to reflect bass notes from the side walls and the ceiling, which is an important factor in the quality of symphony sound. | B: Old halls are a part of history and heritage, so people think they sound better. | C: Old concert halls with good acoustics tend to get maintained and preserved, while ones with suboptimal acoustics get renovated or replaced. | D: The atmosphere is more intimate in an older concert hall—visually as well as acoustically—because the concertgoer is relatively close to the musicians.