The Portable Variable Acoustic Device, or P:VAD, is an intriguing acoustic treatment product created by acoustician Anthony Frost of The Narrowband Absorber Company. Offering a combination of absorption and diffusion, the compact, modular device can be used to tackle room-related acoustic issues in everything from professional recording and mixing environments to home cinemas, studios and listening rooms.
Constructed from plywood and employing a sheep’s wool filling, the sustainably built units measure 525 x 525 x 360 mm, and weigh in at 12.8kg. Despite their minimal footprint, they offer absorption down to an impressively low frequency: a single unit will tackle frequencies as low as 63 – 80 Hz. Their design makes it possible to stack multiple units together to increase their effectiveness, and the company say that combining three P:VADs each fitted with an optional bung that seals the cavity on their front face will extend their working range down to 40 – 50 Hz. They say that diffusion is most perceptible from 630Hz upwards, and the diffusion coefficient can be altered by rotating the unit as well as changing its position within a room.
The company have carried out a number of thorough absorption and diffusion tests at the University of Salford — for those who are interested in the results, a detailed explanation of the tests complete with graphs and audio recordings are available on the Narrowband Absorber Company website.
Pricing & Availability
The P:VAD is available now in either gloss black or plain finishes, with prices starting from £585 including VAT.
