Feature Article

Acoustical Room Treatment: A Survey of Methods and Materials

Part IV
 

December, 2004

Adrian Wittenberg


RPG, Inc

651-C Commerce Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774
Phone: 301-249-0044; Fax: 301-249-3912
Website: www.rpginc.com.

 

The 4” Skyline LP diffusor is 2' x 2' x 4" made of what appears to be a very durable styrene product. The surfaces are of many different random heights which can be seen in the picture here. Retail price for the 4” Skyline LP model is $199.00 for a box of two.
The Hemiffusor measures 23-5/8” x 23-5/8” x 4" and is intended to reflect sound in a hemisphere pattern. The material is similar to the material used in the Skyline's construction. These are intended to be mounted on the ceiling or wall with construction adhesive, Velcro strips, or hook and loop fasteners. Retail price for the Hemiffusor is $199.98 for a box of two.
The Diffactral + is a newer product available from RPG which has a combination of diffraction properties. It measures 2'x1'x4” deep, and has various shelves with many angled ridges and grooves. This has high quality construction and weighs 15 pounds. Call RPG for pricing.
RPG sent two partial samples of some of their popular absorption products. First is the BAD panel which features a unique design for an absorption panel. It has a layer of reflective material sandwiched between the outer fabric and the absorption material. This layer has holes cut out of it, which are spaced using mathematical formulas for optimum effectiveness. The product attempts to both absorb some sound waves and reflect others. This creates a sound which has a variation in volume among reflecting frequencies. Call RPG for pricing.
The Absorbor panel is a traditional fabric wrapped panel, and is available in 2'x4' and 2'x2' sizes. They are also available in 2” and 4” thickness. The sample is of a dense material which resists any pressure. The fabric coating is made by Guilford of Maine. Call RPG for pricing.



Sonex

3800 Washington Ave. N, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55412
Phone: 800-662-0032; Fax: 612-520-3620
Website: www.sonex-online.com.

 

SONEXpyramid is a 2'x2' panel of acoustic foam material, featuring an array of pyramid shapes. The foam is soft to the touch and is of medium density. This panel is available in a couple of different colors and is pictured here in beige. The panel can be ordered in 2”,3”, and 4” thickness. The retail price of the 2” thickness panels is $166 for a box of fourteen.
The SONEX Contour Ceiling and Wall Tile is shown here. These are meant to be used together to form an attractive pattern on either the ceiling or the wall. This panel is treated with a special paint which makes wiping off dirt and grime very easy. They are also fire resistant. The panels retail for $465 for a box of fourteeen and are available with a few different patterns.
The SONEXvalueline panel shown here is 2'x4'x53mm and is made of melamine which has a different resilience than foam. These are fire retardant panels and are priced lower than some of SONEX's other absorption panels. The pattern on these panels is subtle and makes for an attractive appearance. They are available in a few different thicknesses (35, 53, and 60 millimeters) The retail price for the 53 mm thick panels is $167 for a box of six.
SONEXclassic is one of SONEX's most popular lines. The panel shown here is 2'x4'x2”. The panels come in pairs of two which have mirrored patterns of each other. The patterns themselves consist of horizontal and vertical ridges, approximately one inch deep, repeating in three inch square sections. This panel is made of polyurethane and has good construction, free of any defects. Retail pricing for the 2” thick panel is $181 for a box of eight.




Guilford of Maine

Interface Fabrics
5399 Corporate Grove Dr. SE, Suite 200
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512-5512
Phone: 800-544-0200; Fax: 616-554-2250
Website: www.guilfordofmaine.com

 

Here we see the FR701 fabric material which is one of the most popular fabrics of choice for covering acoustic panels. This is true both for manufacturers and DIY'ers alike. The fabric is available in many rich colors. It has a semi-course feel to the touch. Pricing is dependent on how much material is ordered.



Owens Corning

One Owens Corning Parkway Toledo, Ohio 43659
Phone: 866-768-6375
Website: www.owenscorning.com

 

Fiberglas 705 UF 2” series is a popular choice for DIY'ers who want the satisfaction of making their own panels while saving some money in the process. This 2'x2'x2” sample is a dense packing of fiberglass material. Small dust fragments of the material would come off when touched. Call Owens Corning for pricing.
The SelectSound Black Acoustic Blanket consists of layers of soft fibrous material compressed together. Here we see a 2'x2'x2” sample. The outer facing is a thin layer of more durable fabric which is said to stand up better to wear and tear. Call Owens Corning for pricing.
SelectSound Black Acoustic Board is very similar to the Black Acoustic Blanket, but it is compressed and treated to make it a much more rigid material. The outer facing of this material is a thin layer of more durable fabric which is said to stand up better to wear and tear. Call Owens Corning for pricing.
Owens Corning also sent two samples of their own sound absorption paneling. The Soundsoak 85 Fiberglass Substrate and the Soundsoak Mineral Fiber Substrate are pictured respectively. The 85 Fiberglass model features standard construction with a layer of fiberglass, covered with a decorative fabric. The Mineral Fiber sample is a very dense rigid material that somewhat resembles plaster or drywall. It has a soft ridged fabric covering. Call Owens Corning for pricing.

 

Acoustics First Corporation

2247 Tomlyn Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230-3334
Phone: 888-765-2900, 804-342-2900; Fax: 804-342-1107
Website: www.acousticsfirst.com

 

The Cutting Wedge Classic 1'x1' panel is made of polyurethane. These panels have one inch deep wedges across the panel. The foam is of medium density and is somewhat flexible. The sample sent is of a marine blue color. Other more subtle colors like beige and hunter green are also available. They are available in various thicknesses up to 6". The retail price for these 1'x1'x2” panels is $208.00 for a box of sixty four.

 

The Cutting Wedge 2000 is a panel made of polyurethane which is designed to be stackable. Three layers of this material stacked together would measure 4 ¾” tall. The wedges are 1" deep and are on both sides of the panel. The panel is somewhat flexible and compresses considerably when pressure is applied. The retail price for The Cutting Wedge 2000 is $211.00 for a box of 64 1'x1' pieces.
Acoustics First sent two samples of their Wedge and Pyramid models. These use the same polyurethane material with a different pattern. The foam is soft and compresses easily with pressure. The Wedge model's pattern looks like a 1” mound with a dip in the peak (like a camel's back). The pyramid model features an array of pyramids that are 2”x2”. The pyramids are one inch tall. The retail price for the Wedge is $150.00 for eight 2'x4'x2” panels. The retail price for the Pyramid is $207.00 for a box of eighteen 2'x2'x2” panels.

The Standard Wall Panels feature chemically hardened edges and are wrapped in Guilford of Maine FR701 fabric. These panels are available in one and two inch thicknesses and are available in any one of 48 fabric colors. The edges of these panels are very stiff while the center remains softer. These have different options for edging and mounting hardware. They retail for $36.00 each for the 2'x2'x1” model.
Acoustics First sent a slice of one of their Bermuda Triangle Traps. The polyurethane material is denser and more rigid than the other acoustic products they sent, but it is hard to comment on the entire product from this slice. Retail price for the 4'x1' trap is $168.00 for a box of four.

Conclusions

I hope this article will help get more of you involved with tending to the acoustics of your rooms. It's very easy to get started on a project like this, and even small applications will improve your sound. Before you make that next equipment upgrade, consider the benefits of acoustical room treatment. Thanks go to all the manufacturers who participated in the survey, and to Brian Florian who was an inexhaustible resource of information.



- Adrian Wittenberg -

 

© Copyright 2004 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity
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