If you are looking to reduce the amount of noise in a space, acoustic panels can be an effective way to nip noise in the bud without requiring any major changes or renovations. They work by reducing sound reverberation and vibrations, and are available in a variety of styles and designs so you can find the perfect fit for your home or office decor.
How Do Acoustic Panels Work?
Sound reduction panels are porous fabric-wrapped boards designed to control echo and reverberation in spaces such as offices and rooms. The panels use an absorbent core and breathable fabric to dampen and reduce excess frequencies, resulting in better speech intelligibility and a more comfortable acoustic environment.
They are commonly used to resolve acoustic treatment issues, like reverberation and soundproofing a conference room, office, or music studio. They are also popular in residential homes as a quick and easy method of tackling unwanted noise.
In general, acoustic panels function by directly absorbing sound energy that hits the surface. When the airborne sound waves strike the panels, their energy is converted to heat energy due to friction, and this prevents them from bouncing back out into space and energizing additional molecules.
This type of direct absorption is a good way to control reverberations caused by everyday noises such as conversations, television sounds, and music, but they are not the best solution for structure-borne noises such as heavy traffic or footsteps in an apartment building. For structures that require a higher level of soundproofing, acoustic panels can be combined with an air gap behind the panel to double its acoustic performance.