This investigation assessed preferences of choristers (N = 20) and auditors (N = 60) relative to the choral sound of a university chamber choir and its male and female voice sections in three spacings (closed, lateral, circumambient) and two formations (random block sectional and synergistic). Five conditions of an SATB homophonic choral excerpt, and three conditions each of a male choir and female choir homophonic choral excerpt, were sung and recorded digitally. Auditors listened to 12 pairs of randomly ordered excerpts, expressing preference for most pleasing choral sound. Choristers completed the Singer Evaluation Form. Results indicated significant singer and auditor preference for spread spacing, and auditor preference for the sound of the random rather than synergistic choir formation. Auditors significantly favored circumambient spacing for female singers and lateral spacing for male singers. Choristers (100%) thought spacing exercised positive influence upon the choirıs sound. Singers reported less vocal tension and better vocal production in spread spacing. Results were discussed (a) in terms of choir spacing as one means of contributing to both ease of vocal production and a desirable choral sound, and (b) in terms of the persistence of certain assumptions in choral pedagogy materials that may confuse the distributive and collective parameters of choral sound.