Sound System Simulates the Roar of a Rocket Launch

retroworks writes "Located in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and part of ESA's ESTEDC Test Center, is the Large European Acoustic Facility (LEAF), a sound amplification system 'powerful enough to kill a human being.' LEAF is capable of generating more than 154 decibels, the sound equivalent to standing next to several jets taking off. It is used to blast satellites and spacecraft with sound. Large horns are housed in a sound-proofed room that is 16.4meters tall. One wall of horns stands 11 m wide by 9 m deep and 16.4 m high. LEAF requires all the doors to be closed, operating in steel-reinforced concrete walls to contain the noise. The walls are coated with an epoxy resin to reflect noise, producing a uniform sound field within the chamber."

the real question is

[Anonymous Coward]

can it go to 11?

Questions not addressed in the summary

[pushing-robot]

1. Can it play Van Halen?

2. How can I have one installed in my living room?

It's only a matter of time...

[narcc]

...before this is stolen and installed in a '94 honda civic.

Re:Questions not addressed in the summary

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

Of course I wish you could install it in your living room. Given that the volume can kill a person, it is going to be more like dying room. But, please be my guest. Once all these noise obsessed people have knocked themselves out of the genepool, real music might emerge someday.

Re:Questions not addressed in the summary

[pushing-robot]

They don't call it Death Metal for nothing, you know.

One of the first customers

[rossdee]

Hotblack Desiato and his band Disaster Area

Re:the real question is

[Ellis D. Tripp]

Sounds like this one might go up to 12 or more...and is large enough that it won't be trod on by a dwarf.

Re:the real question is

[binarylarry]

Since it's sound proof (and hopefully sealed air tight) lets just lock them inside and call it a day.

Missed headline opportunity

[wonkey_monkey]

Sound system simulates strident sonics of soaring space ships

powerful enough to kill a human?? mythbusters

[Joe_Dragon]

powerful enough to kill a human?? sounds like the mythbusters need to test this!!

Re: Questions not addressed in the summary

[jd2112]

Death metal? This thing has Disaster Area written all over it. They must be scheduled for a gig on Earth soon!

Re:the real question is

[Demonoid-Penguin]

can it go to 11?

(sigh) bloody Slashdot posters.... If you bothered to read the referenced article you'd see it starts at 11. [mutter, mutter].