Ask a visitor what they remember about a strong exhibit and they will usually describe what they saw. Much of what actually shaped how they felt while looking at it was sound, operating quietly enough that most visitors never consciously register it as a design element at all.
Sound sets pace without announcing itself
A room with a low, sustained ambient tone encourages visitors to slow down and linger, in a way lighting or layout alone rarely achieves as reliably. A room with brighter, more active sound moves people through more quickly, whether or not that was their conscious intention. This effect works precisely because it operates below the level most visitors notice — a change in lighting is obvious, while a change in ambient sound tends to be felt rather than identified.
