A survey of sound levels at the first two rounds of the Six Nations showed that the Aviva Stadium crowd was the second-loudest after Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

The Aviva has sometimes been criticised for a perceived lack of atmosphere but a study carried out by Press Association Sport seems to belie that notion.

In a test conducted in association with Pulsar Instruments, reporters have tracked the decibel (dB) levels at the six fixtures so far in this year's competition.

The Millennium Stadium's average of 92.0dB was comfortably the highest of the lot, but its top reading of 100dB was beaten by the roar at full-time of Ireland's barnstorming win over France - when the delighted Aviva crowd in Dublin hit 101.0dB.

Reporters took the LAeq reading - the total sound energy over a given period of time - at each game.

Cardiff led the way in terms of average, followed by Dublin, Twickenham, Murrayfield, Rome and Paris, while the Aviva and the Millennium stadiums were the only venues to break the 100dB mark at their loudest.

1. Millennium Stadium (Wales v England)
LAeq summary average - 92.0dB
Highest point LAeq recorded throughout the measurement - 100.0dB after Rhys Webb's early try

2. Aviva Stadium (Ireland v France)
LAeq summary average - 89.8dB
Highest point - 101.0dB at full-time

3. Twickenham (England v Italy)
LAeq summary average - 88.4dB
Highest point - 91.1dB immediately after the anthems

4. Murrayfield (Scotland v Wales)
LAeq summary average - 88.0dB
Highest point - 96.0dB after Stuart Hogg's early try

5. Stadio Olimpico (Italy v Ireland)
LAeq summary average - 86.1dB
Highest point - 92.8dB after Kelly Haimona's late disallowed try

6. Stade de France (France v Scotland)
LAeq summary average - 85.1dB
Highest point - 90.2dB as the crowd began singing the anthem after Camille Lopez's late penalty

"Twickenham should be much louder, there are more fans there, but it depends on the impact of the game, how many tries are scored and such," said Pulsar's managing director Sarah Brack

"The decision was made to take each game from the national anthems to the finish of the game so there could be no peak prior to the event because of fireworks and pyrotechnics."

The Wales-England clash was preceded by just such a display but the stadium's retractable roof was left open in spite of home coach Warren Gatland's wishes for it to be closed, with the England team training with 'hymns and arias' being played at full volume over loudspeakers in preparation for the noise and passion in Cardiff.

Despite the open roof, the average of 92.0dB at that game was more than two decibels higher than the nearest challenger, which again was Ireland v France.

At the other end of the scale was France's low-key 15-8 home win over Scotland, which limped to 85.1dB and that only after a passionate late rendition of La Marseillaise saw the French crowd hit 90.2dB.

Twickenham in fact finished only third in the average readings with 88.4dB and behind all but France-Scotland at optimum level with 91.1dB. England's opposition, Italy, and the 47-17 scoreline may have played a part.

Italy v Ireland and Scotland v Wales also scored low, perhaps a product of defeats for the home sides even if Scotland ran their opponents close.

"It's a famous saying that heads go down," Brack said when assessing the effect of a home defeat.

"You have to keep that momentum going and the home team, if things are going very well the excitement is sustained, if not so well then it can drop off a bit and become a little flat."