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SPL (Sound Pressure Level, or volume).
New Hope measures SPL to create an exciting and safe experience.
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At New Hope Chapel, we take a thoughtful and community-driven approach to managing Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) during our services. Our goal is to create an engaging and immersive worship experience while remaining sensitive to the comfort and preferences of our congregation.
In early 2025, we conducted a focus group with members of our church community to gather feedback on the audio experience during our services. The group included a diverse cross-section of attendees, ensuring that multiple perspectives were taken into account.
From that feedback, we established clear SPL guidelines to balance clarity, energy, and comfort in the room.
• Target SPL: We aim to maintain an average of 80–85 dBA over a rolling 15-minute period during worship and message segments.
• Peak SPL: Peaks should not exceed 98 dBA at any time.
• Monitoring: SPL is monitored consistently throughout each service using calibrated meters placed at FOH (Front of House) to ensure consistency.
This volume range allows us to:
• Preserve the energy and impact of live worship
• Ensure spoken word is clear and intelligible
• Protect the hearing and comfort of all attendees
• Maintain a welcoming environment for newcomers and sensitive listeners
We regularly revisit our SPL practices, incorporating feedback from team members, congregation surveys, and ongoing observation. This ensures our sound remains excellent and community-focused as our church grows.