Most architects and interior designers love the bespoke rooms and have an eye for detail when it comes to visual design. However, they can get clueless when a client requests for acoustic specifications in their projects be it commercial or residential.
Acoustic Panels are products which can be used to control the sound quality of different spaces. They may be classified into three categories based on their absorption and diffusion properties. To understand these categories, it is necessary to understand the basic differences between absorption and diffusion.Sound energy striking a surface may either be transmitted, absorbed, or reflected; the amount of either of these depends on the acoustic property of the surface. Absorbers are used to reduce the noise levels in a room by absorbing the sound energy.
Diffusers are used in spaces to make the room sound lively without creating echoes. Diffusers do not absorb the sound energy but instead disperse the sound uniformly within the space without removing sound energy. An example of a use of diffusers is in concert halls where there is a requirement for the uniform reverberant field. In many cases, absorbers and diffusers are used in a room together for optimum results. Absorption may be used in locations where early reflections occur—to minimize interference with the direct sound. Diffusers make the room lively by providing reflections to produce a uniform diffuse field.
