The science of acoustics began with concert hall reverberation theory

Evidence

The origins of modern acoustic science lie in the domain of large auditoriums, including concert halls, beginning with the concept of reverberation time by Wallace Clement Sabine at the end of the 19th century. … The “live” performances that matter for recordings occur in small rooms equipped with loudspeakers—sound reproduction. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 255

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes Sabine as the origin point of reverberation time as a concept, anchoring the whole tradition.