Acoustic Panels
Acoustic panels are thin, discreet wall panels typically made of foam or wool that are used to absorb sound. Because soundwaves easily bounce off hard surfaces, which can cause unwanted reverberation, acoustic panels help reduce the number of rebounding waves and dampen unwanted echoes.
Acoustic panels can range in density to absorb more sound or less sound, depending on your unique needs. It’s important to find a balance as too much absorbed sound can create a dead space.
Acoustic panels can also blend with your room décor or look like artwork on your walls. While they may be in full view, you and your guests won’t even notice them as acoustic treatments.
Diffuser Panels
Like we mentioned earlier, absorbing too much sound creates an eerily quiet space, which can be just as bad as having too many echoes. Diffuser panels help reduce soundwaves from causing piercing echoes without fully absorbing sound so that you still experience an open and natural soundstage.
Diffuser panels are typically made of wood and are three-dimensional, with pieces that stick out at varying lengths. When soundwaves hit these panels, they disperse and return to your ears at different intervals so that you’re not “slapped” with sound all at once. The result is a better sense of spaciousness in your home theater or listening room.
SEE ALSO: McIntosh MX170: Create the Cinematic Soundstage of Your Dreams
Bass Traps
Low-frequency soundwaves are long, powerful, and challenging to regulate. These low frequencies typically collect in the corners of your space and can make the bass in your movie soundtracks and music painfully loud. Failing to control them can make it difficult to hear any other noises other than bass.
Bass traps are typically made from porous materials like foam or rigid fiberglass and act as acoustic energy absorbers that dampen low-frequency sound in the corners of your home theater or listening room. While they don’t actually “trap” all the bass (we wouldn’t want that anyway), they absorb excessive low-frequencies and even help bring out more detail among low-frequency sounds.
Now that you’ve learned what acoustic treatments are, their importance, and common solutions, it’s time to talk about implementation! In our third and final blog of this acoustic treatment series, we’ll discuss how these solutions should be incorporated into your entertainment room. Hint: proper placement takes some planning, strategy, and expert assistance. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, you can always connect with our audio experts at Show & Tell AV to learn more about our acoustic treatment solutions and how we can help improve the sound performance in your home. Contact us here or message us in the chat box below.