How to position panels in your space for the most sound absorption
Whether you own a restaurant, coffee shop, library or home, controlling the acoustics in your space is essential to creating a welcoming and comfortable environment. Improving sound absorption can help to reduce stress, increase productivity and even improve people’s overall experience in the space.
With absorbing bamboo panels, the acoustics in your space can be significantly improved. Quality and clarity of sound can be improved, while noise, echoing and reverberation can be reduced.
Contrary to popular belief, sound-absorbing panels will not soundproof a room. It will, however, boost the quality of the acoustics and reduce noise in the space where they are installed.
For example, sound-absorbing panels are commonly found in home theaters. Oftentimes, people spend top dollar on high-definition televisions, surround sound speaker systems and theater-style furniture, but they forget about the acoustics of the room itself, which is just as crucial to the overall experience. Many home theaters can suffer from muddled voices and echoing from the bass. With sound-absorbing panels, there will be an amazing difference in the sound quality and clarity.
San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong has a new line of bamboo panels, PlybooSound, which is great for reducing noise in restaurants, public venues, open work spaces, libraries, lobbies, university lounges and more. The collection is equipped with QuietWall Technology, which is a sound-dampening material applied to the wall or ceiling. The panels are available in a number of designs, making it easy to choose one that best fits the design of your home or business. The A1 panel features a modern design that can easily be integrated into any style of room.
Where to place your sound-absorbing panels largely depends on the space in which they’re being installed. You should keep in mind that a visually appealing appearance is often the guiding factor in placement. However, no matter where you end up installing them, the panels will work to soak up any extra sound, whether it’s coming from a booming home theater system or the clicking and clacking of a keyboard in an office space.
Here are a couple guidelines for strategically placing your sound-absorbing bamboo panels to make the most of the space:
You get more absorption per foot of panel when it is placed in or near a corner.
If there is a primary source of sound in the room, like surround-sound speakers, it’s best to place the panels at first reflection points. These are places where the sound will reflect off the panel and reach the listener. Adding panels at reflection points reduces late-arriving sound so that your brain can focus on one clear copy of the sound, instead of hearing echos.