“What is an Anechoic Chamber? The Truth About the Quietest Room in the World”
Simply put, an anechoic chamber is a special room where sound doesn’t bounce back at all. In a regular room, your voice reflects off walls, floors, and ceilings, but in an anechoic chamber, these reflections are almost completely absorbed.
It feels like sound has nowhere to escape, as if the entire space is swallowing it up — a truly strange and fascinating sensation.
◆ What Happens Inside an Anechoic Chamber?
People who enter often say:
“My ears feel strange, like pressure builds up.”
“I can hear my heartbeat clearly.”
“My breathing sounds louder than usual.”
This happens because all the sounds from outside disappear, making you hyper-aware of the sounds within your own body. You start noticing things like your blood flow, or the sound of your clothes rustling — sounds you’d normally never hear so clearly.
◆ How Quiet is it? — Numbers to Explain
The silence of an anechoic chamber is measured in decibels (dB).
Sound Level | Example |
---|---|
60dB | Normal conversation |
40dB | Quiet library |
30dB | Whispering |
Below 20dB | Typical anechoic chamber |
Below 10dB | World-class anechoic chamber |
In other words, anechoic chambers are much quieter than a whisper and quieter even than the sound of a leaf falling to the ground.
◆ What Are Anechoic Chambers Used For?
They’re not just quiet rooms — they’re used for precise sound measurements.
For example:
- Measuring operating noise of smartphones and home appliances
- Quietness tests for vehicles (especially electric vehicles)
- Performance checks for speakers and microphones
- Acoustic evaluations of medical devices
- Ultrasonic tests for drones and sensors
In short, they provide a perfectly controlled environment to accurately measure the true sound of products.
◆ Modern Anechoic Chambers Focus on Comfort, Too
Older anechoic chambers often made people feel uncomfortable, with sensations like ear pressure or dizziness. But that’s changing.
For example:
- Using softer, more human-friendly sound-absorbing materials
- Designing acoustic panels with optimized shapes
- Creating more natural sound environments
Thanks to these improvements, modern anechoic chambers balance performance with comfort, making them easier to work in for long periods.
◆ Summary
- Anechoic chambers are special rooms where sound completely disappears.
- They are quieter than a whisper (below 10–20dB).
- Essential for testing audio products, vehicles, and medical devices.
- Recently, “comfortable and natural” anechoic chambers have also been developed.
Anechoic chambers are indispensable “sound laboratories” for companies that care about sound quality.
Experience the ultimate silence for yourself.