A series of relatively new objective measures of the acoustical quality of performing arts halls such as temporal energy ratios, early decay times, and rise times has been investigated and compared to each other and the perceived quality of the halls by many researchers. Measurements of these criteria were made at multiple positions in 1:10, 1:40, and 1:100 scale models of a 1500‐seat multipurpose performance hall and in equivalent positions in the prototype room. There were clearly distinguishable zones of differing acoustical response shown in reflectograms made in the prototype room and even the smallest models. The objective measurements taken in the small size models with wideband noise duplicated the measurements taken in the larger size models and the prototype room reasonably well. The measurements made on an octave‐band basis in the 1:10 scale model and the prototype room at equivalent positions show acceptable correlation. Twenty thousand hertz was the midband frequency for the highest octave band in the models that yielded acceptable values without correcting for air absorption. The ease of testing and the comparative results make this a valuable tool for preliminary testing of design alternatives.