What does a Sphere Sound Like? A look at the Las Vegas Sphere Acoustics
Acoustics in the Las Vegas Sphere | October 20, 2023
The Las Vegas Sphere has been a major topic of discussion in the tech, construction, and architectural industries. Many are fascinated by its unique construction design, with a giant spherical screen covering the entire structure.
TikTok videos and social media posts have been circulating online, showcasing what the sphere has to offer to those passing by, but also the immersive experience inside, emphasizing the visual appeal of the structure.
However, one aspect that hasn’t received as much attention on social media is the sound experience inside the Sphere. The acoustics and sound quality in this type of space are crucial for providing a quality, immersive experience.
While acoustics and sound quality can’t be visually captured in an Instagram photo, the sound experience of a spherical space for concerts and other audiovisual experiences is arguably the most crucial part.
The sound experience of a spherical space for concerts and other audiovisual experiences is arguably the most crucial part.
BrightTree Studios’ Acoustics Lead, Josh Thede, PE, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, says, “Winning awards for the visual aesthetic is important in one aspect, but the actual experience of the space, where occupants can hear each other and listen to the concert the way it’s intended—that’s a case to be made—that acoustics is even more important than visual aesthetics.”
As a company that also specializes in audiovisual design, we’re genuinely impressed by the concept of the spherical video wall. However, our commitment to responsible design leads us to recognize that for events to be successful in a venue of this unique shape, acoustics must be a primary consideration from the very beginning.
“Designing AV and acoustics together is important to get the fan experience, so people actually come back and don’t just hang on to the first ‘buzz’ of something new and exciting—but that it’s a useful space for years to come,” Thede says.
Spheres and Sound Diffusion
In a large, enclosed space where you expect a lot of sound, a sphere isn’t the best shape for good acoustics.
The sound in a sphere naturally focuses in the center, which can lead to people in the middle getting too much sound, while those further away don’t get enough.
For a better audience experience, you’d want the sound to be So, someone in the top corner should hear about the same amount of sound as someone sitting right in the middle.
Thede explains, “A concave surface is going to focus all the sound to one point, creating the hot spots and cold spots, and cause reflection issues due to focusing and reverberation. It just muddies up the sound and is not an ideal experience. It takes away from the speech intelligibility and the clarity of the music.”
Despite these natural acoustical difficulties with geometry of a sphere, with proper consulting and the inclusion of acoustics early in the design process, spaces with both great acoustics and great aesthetics can certainly be executed.
Are good Acoustics even Possible in a Sphere?
To have quality acoustics in a sphere-shaped space, you’ll need the help of an acoustics consultant.
Thede says, “There are some ways that you could get a space to look like a sphere, but not have all the detrimental effects.”
A lot of these adjustments involve the building to be constructed differently, which is the main reason acoustics needs to be involved from the beginning of the design process.
If you treat designing a full sphere like designing a planetarium, there are some unique acoustic solutions.
“They can actually make a screen acoustically transparent, so all the sound actually goes through the round part and can be absorbed by whatever sound absorbing or sound diffusing surface they have beyond the actual interior finish,” Thede explains.
To avoid sound focusing, the surfaces inside the space should be convex or specialty acoustic diffuser panels, to allow the sound to spread evenly throughout the space.
The Las Vegas Sphere
While we don’t know many of the exact specifics about the Las Vegas Sphere’s acoustics, we can tell from photos that there appears to be some rectangular surfaces and pointed edges, indicating it’s not a full sphere on the inside. This helps the sound absorb and flow more evenly throughout the space.
An article from Front of House Magazine says the seats in the sphere are designed to absorb sound and are arranged at a “sharply raked angle” to help with the room acoustics.
Another article from Fast Company says every single surface in the Las Vegas Sphere is designed to absorb or diffuse sound, aside from the reflectors that help emphasize certain sounds from the show.
A lot of these adjustments involve the building to be constructed differently, which is the main reason acoustics needs to be involved from the beginning of the design process.
Although we haven’t had the chance to experience the acoustics inside the Las Vegas Sphere firsthand, it’s likely that they involved an acoustics consultant early in the building’s design process—given the specific sound-absorbing measures used.
If these spherical attractions become more common across the country, it’s essential to seek advice from acousticians on how to design these spaces effectively. Balancing the approach to design, considering both visual and auditory factors, will be key to crafting memorable and enjoyable experiences for all who visit them.
Interested in learning more about our Acoustics? Check out our previous blog about acoustics in the digital hospital environment.
