Assessment of the acoustic environment in popular indoor badminton gyms

Abstract

This study examines the relationships among acoustic factors, emotional factors, and customers' evaluations of acoustic comfort in badminton gym environments. Six popular badminton gyms in Nanning were selected as research sites. Sound pressure level (SPL) measurements, reverberation time assessments, and questionnaire surveys were conducted to analyze the acoustic characteristics and user perceptions in these venues. The results indicate that background noise in badminton gyms fluctuates considerably. The gym with the highest visitor volume recorded the highest $L_{\text{Aeq}}$ at 75.1 dB(A), and the $L_{10}-L_{90}$ differences in all gyms exceeded 10 dB(A), indicating substantial variation in noise levels. Fewer than half of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the acoustic environment. A significant positive correlation was found between acoustic comfort and overall environmental comfort, stronger than the correlation between thermal comfort and overall comfort. Perceived loudness showed only a weak negative correlation with acoustic comfort, and SPL itself had minimal explanatory power, suggesting that sound intensity alone does not determine acoustic comfort. The shuttlecock impact sound, while central to the badminton experience and generally favored by users, can negatively affect comfort when perceived as excessively loud. Notably, enjoyment of badminton was positively correlated with acoustic comfort, indicating that emotional engagement influences environmental perception. Therefore, when assessing recreational spaces such as badminton gyms, it is essential to consider not only acoustic measurements but also user preferences and adaptability within the environment.