How Long Could You Stay in the World’s Quietest Room?

Just how quiet is too quiet?

Us VOs are somewhat obsessed with sound and noise floor, but when you read the details of this anechoic chamber that Microsoft built in Washington, it is mind-blowing. Tests performed in 2015 showed that the average noise floor was -20.35 dB!

For those who don’t know, the noise floor is the background noise when you record - the quiter the space, the lower the noise floor. To give you a basis for comparison, Office space is usually around 60-65dB, and a quiet library room is around 20db.

The article states that no-one can stay there for more than an hour - if you know me well enough, you know I LOVE a challenge. I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to have an hermetically sealed room, just to be able to experience pure silence. But looking into the specs of this construction, including six layers of concrete and steel, as well as fiberglass wedges, and the effect this has on the body, it’s pretty terrifying…

“The room removes all other outside noise and allows you to hear the endless sounds of your own body” - consider my morbid curiosity, peaked!

Apparently after only a few minutes you will be able to hear your blood flowing through your body and even your bones grinding together as you move. My clicky joints would have an absolute field day in here!

I’m booking my ticket now, who’s with me?

Thanks to Nic Redman for sharing such an interesting article and bringing this amazing place to my attention!