DIY Acoustic Treatment
ultrafoam tile, 100mm
Improve the frequency response and decay time of mid to high frequencies; designed to used on walls and ceilings at reflection points to reduce interference and flutter echoes.
NEW DESIGN
Our experience and testing have taught us a few lessons about acoustic foam tiles. Here’s a brief synopsis of our latest research and development efforts.
For both aesthetic and practical reasons, acoustic foam tiles are usually installed directly onto a wall or ceiling, and yet this is quite undesirable acoustically. The foam on and near the wall is largely wasted; sound waves become more stationary closer to the wall and very little sound energy can be absorbed. More performance could be achieved from an absorber of a given thickness, by mounting it away from the wall somehow. The challenge was to achieve better performance, yet do this both cost effectively and elegantly.
Foams aren’t just foams; it’s not widely known, but there is a range of acoustic foams to choose from. They possess different characteristics, such as stiffness and flow resistivity, which impact how they perform acoustically. And they vary in cost. We needed to consider both the geometry of the absorber and the physical properties of the foam.
We conceived a new design, born out of the need to address these challenges.
We used computer-based modelling to predict the performance of various foams, in various thicknesses and at various distances from a surface. Then, we did some computer-aided design to get the optimum shape out of the least amount of material. Based on the software simulations we selected a number of candidates to be measured in the lab. Finally, we went to the lab with our prototypes and measured their performance using the Australian Standard 354-2006 - Measurement of sound absorption in a reverberation room.
We are very happy with the outcome. Our new design addresses the surface mounting issue; there’s less foam against the wall, but still enough so that you may mount it easily. We took the foam we saved on the back and added it to the front.
Note that some suppliers will try to convince you that the saw tooth or V-shape ribs on their products will act like the wedges seen in anechoic chambers to make their absorber more effective. At this scale the ribs are too small to effect frequencies in the audible range. Our design simply gives you more foam away from the wall where it can be a useful absorber.
Size: 500 W x 500 H x 100 D (mm)
Acoustic Performance:
Measured in accordance with the standards: AS ISO 354-2006; and, ISO 9613-1:1993.
Recommendations on Use:
To have an audible effect in the mid to high range frequencies, you will need to cover a considerable percentage of the surface area of the room with appropriate absorbers. In a typically furnished room with a carpeted floor, expect to cover 30 to 40% of the wall and ceiling area.
Mid to high range frequencies are best treated by placing absorbers at the reflection points on the side walls and ceiling (reflection points may be found if you sit in the listening position and get a friend to move a mirror along the side walls until you can see the speaker).