The Atlas Obscura Podcast 12 Days of Wonder: World's Quietest Room
Dec 19, 2025
Steve Orfield, an acoustics consultant and founder of Orfield Laboratories, takes us inside the world’s quietest room, the anechoic chamber. He delves into psychological acoustics, revealing how sound shapes our emotions. Listeners learn about the surreal experience of extreme silence, where internal noises become amplified. Orfield also discusses the significance of designing spaces for tranquility and his vision of turning Orfield Labs into a nonprofit. The conversation blends science, design, and the mysterious nature of silence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Recording-Studio Turned Acoustic Lab
- Dylan revisits Orfield Labs, a former recording studio where artists like Bob Dylan and Prince recorded.
- Steven J. Orfield bought the building and converted it into research labs focused on acoustics and sensory experience.
Psychological Acoustics Reveals How Sound Persuades
- Orfield Labs developed 'psychological acoustics' to study how sound makes people feel and believe.
- They test products' sonic qualities to predict emotional and demographic responses.
Design Details Of The Anechoic Chamber
- The anechoic chamber is lined with foam wedges and has a suspended, springy floor to avoid touching wedges.
- Outside the chamber are double walls and a foot of concrete so virtually no sound penetrates.