What is the best way to determine how reverberant a space is?

Using an RT60 meter is the best method to determine how reverberant a space is because it provides a quantitative measurement of reverberation time. The RT60 metric specifically measures the time it takes for sound to decay by 60 decibels after the source has stopped emitting sound. This measurement is crucial for assessing acoustic space characteristics and helps identify whether a room has excessive reverberation, which can affect speech intelligibility and sound clarity.

While clapping hands might give a rudimentary sense of echo, it does not provide precise data or account for varied frequencies and conditions in the space. Asking the client about noise complaints relies on subjective experiences and may not accurately reflect the actual reverberation characteristics. Using a dB SPL meter measures sound pressure levels rather than specifically addressing reverberation time, which is essential for understanding the room's acoustic properties. Therefore, employing an RT60 meter is the most effective and reliable approach to assessing reverberation in a space.