Sabine formula (equation)

The Sabine formula/equation (named after Wallace Clement Sabine) is a fundamental acoustic relationship used to estimate reverberation time in a room, based on room volume, surface area, and absorption coefficients. It assumes diffuse (evenly distributed) sound, so its accuracy degrades in real rectangular rooms or when absorption coefficients exceed roughly 0.3.

Claims that use this term

• The Sabine formula assumes diffuse sound that real rectangular rooms rarely produce
• The Sabine equation works well when absorption coefficients stay under 0.3