Whether you want to limit sound transmission, minimize background noise and reduce reverberation time, it is crucial to choose the location of the acoustic panels to achieve the best possible performance. The search for the ideal positioning depends on many factors, such as
- room type
- the activity of the space
- existing furniture
- materials in the space
In small rooms, such as meeting rooms and private offices, sound waves usually bounce off the walls at first because. These are usually the hard surfaces closest to the sound source. As a result, you should consider using wall acoustic panels. These panels will help absorb the sound, reducing the number of waves reflected into the room.
In spacious rooms and large open spaces, sound waves will behave differently. Sound energy travels through any space, but in large spaces, less sound energy will bounce back into the room because the original sound will sometimes fall dead before it reaches a hard object.
Usually the ceiling receives sound waves before the walls. In this situation, horizontal acoustic panels suspended from the ceiling can provide a significant improvement in the sound of the space. When suspended from the ceiling, horizontal panels absorb undesirable sound waves. To increase acoustical performance, use different suspension heights for the panels. Air pockets between panels will trap sound waves, which will prevent them from propagating further into high-ceiling spaces.