Even the very best gear will only ever perform as well as its surroundings allow. Getting the best sound out of your setup means paying some attention to the room itself.
It’s all too tempting to start looking at a nice new pair of monitors when you’re looking to improve your mixing environment, but if the problems you’re experiencing are down to the room itself, no amount of money thrown at speakers will provide the solution. Acoustics is a complex topic, so getting the very best possible results from any given space will of course require the services of an experienced professional, but people are often surprised at how much of a difference can be made with just a few basic steps. The most obvious starting point is some absorption at the ‘mirror points’ — any surfaces that will reflect sound from the monitors directly towards the listening position. With a few strategically placed panels, all but the most challenging of rooms will usually benefit from an improved frequency response, more consistent reverb times and tighter stereo imaging. There’s a whole host of solutions aimed at studios of all shapes and sizes, but to begin with, let’s take a look at some general‑purpose broadband absorbers.
Acoustical Solutions
Acoustical Solutions AlphaSorb BarrierAcoustical Solutions’ AlphaSorb panels are available in a whole host of sizes and colours, and can be specified with square, bevelled or mitred edges. Their standard design combines a fibreglass filling material with a fabric finish, while the Polyester Core range employs a 60% recycled polyester‑based material designed for projects that are aiming to minimise environmental impact.
Further variants come in the form of the AlphaSorb High Impact, which is fitted with an impact‑resistant front panel designed for high‑traffic areas, and the AlphaSorb Barrier, a version that features a layer of mass‑loaded vinyl. The range includes three room kits that bundle together a selection of panels designed to offer an all‑in‑one treatment solution for small, medium and large rooms, along with three Pro kit versions that also include bass traps.
The company also offer panels with a paintable finish, and are able to supply panels finished with custom artwork.
From $71.99.
From $71.99 plus shipping and taxes.
acousticalsolutions.com/product-category/acoustic-panels
Auralex
Auralex ProPanelAuralex manufacture a wide range of acoustic treatment solutions that cover everything from single foam panels to full, all‑in‑one kits designed for a variety of room types and sizes. Their entry‑level AuraPanel range offers a cost‑effective entry into the world of broadband absorbers, and includes square and rectangular fabric‑covered panels filled with a sustainable EcoCell material; they can be ordered in a range of colour finishes and are designed to be mounted on walls, ceilings or across corners. The ProPanel range steps things up a gear with a wider range of shapes and sizes, and can be fitted with the company’s Fusion24 faceplates to create hybrid diffusion/absorption panels.
There’s also a selection of portable panels designed for those working on location or looking for treatment that can be moved around to suit the needs of each session. Finally, Auralex also offer a range of DIY kits that bundle together a set of cut‑to‑size frames, fillings and fabric coverings for those who are handy with tools but don’t fancy tackling the design side of things themselves.
From $109.99.
From £139 including VAT.
DACS Acoustics
DACS Full Range AbsorberIn addition to their studio design services, DACS Acoustics manufacture their own range of acoustic panels that have been developed based on nearly 40 years of industry experience.
First up are their rectangular Full Range and Bass Absorber panels, which as their names suggest, are designed for broadband and low‑end treatment respectively — the latter is effective down to below 40Hz. The Mid/HF Absorber series then includes thinner panels that are focused on midrange and high‑frequency reflections, and includes both wall and ceiling ‘cloud’ options along with a tuned variant that can be used to tackle specific problematic frequency ranges.
The company also have three full‑room kits that bring together a selection of their panels designed to tame the acoustics of small, medium and large studio spaces, along with a selection of portable gobos that can be specified with or without windows.
USD prices available on request.
From £200.10 including VAT.
EQ Acoustics
EQ Acoustics
All of the panels in the EQ Acoustics line‑up contain the company’s Friendly Fibre material, a polyester‑based filling that’s non‑irritant, non‑allergenic and odour‑free — it’s also environmentally friendly, with up to 70% of its content made up of recycled plastic bottle waste. Their wall panels can be purchased in a variety of shapes, sizes and coloured fabric finishes (straight and rounded corner options are available on select panels), and EQ Acoustics will also make up custom sizes or bespoke shapes to order. The larger panels are joined by compact tile variants, which can be supplied with patterned wooden faceplates that provide a combination of reflection and absorption, while those in need of a portable solution can opt for the company’s freestanding gobos.
USD prices available on request.
From £64.99 including VAT.
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics Alpha Pro
GIK Acoustics’ extensive product range has plenty on offer for studio users. Their 242 Acoustic Panels are available in three shapes (one square and two rectangular), and house a mineral‑wool sheet within a sturdy frame that provides a built‑in air gap to enhance the panel’s low‑frequency performance. The thicker B4 then serves as a dual‑purpose panel that strikes a balance between broadband absorber and bass trap, while the Impression/Impression Pro and Alpha/Alpha Pro Series offerings pair a broadband absorber panel with a selection of hard faceplates sporting a decorative pattern that helps to introduce some scattering and diffusion.
There’s also the recently introduced SlatFusor range, a selection of flat and curved panels that are available in two thicknesses, and employ a wooden slat‑fronted design to deliver a mixture of absorption and diffusion. GIK also offer full room kits that include a tailored selection of their broadband absorbers and bass traps, along with freestanding gobos aimed at those looking for a portable solution.
From $79.99.
From £82.80 including VAT.
gikacoustics.co.uk/product-category/acoustic-panels-6
HOFA‑Akustik
HOFA AkustikThe acoustics division of Germany’s HOFA‑Studios offers a huge range of acoustic treatment products than span many industries and applications, but their studio‑focused line‑up is refreshingly simple. Broadband absorption is taken care of by the aptly named HOFA Absorber, a square panel that houses a sustainable natural fibre material and is available in a single size and with a choice of seven coloured fabric finishes. Panels can be ordered either with or without an external wooden frame, and the company also manufacture separate double‑panel frames that can be used to neatly combine a pair of HOFA Absorbers or HOFA Diffuser panels (or one of each) into a single unit.
They also have a Mobile Wall system that’s available in four sizes and includes a set of castors, making it possible to configure sets of their modular absorption and diffusion panels as large rolling gobos.
From $80.98.
From €69.
hofa-akustik.de/en/studio-line/
LA Sound Panels
LA Sound Panels
First up in the LA Sound Panels range is their collection of fabric‑wrapped panels, which can be purchased in a selection of standard sizes (both square and rectangular) as well as being available to order in custom sizes. The standard packing material is an eco‑friendly polyester‑based insulation, and in addition to the default acoustic fabric finish, the company offer a cotton‑based alternative that comes in at a lower cost for applications where aesthetics are a lower priority.
The PolySonic range then steps things up a gear in terms of sustainability thanks to the use of a filling material made from 60% PET‑recycled fibre and 40% PET virgin fibre. If you’re after something portable, then the company also manufacture wooden floor stands that are capable of supporting a selection of their absorbers and bass traps, as well as height‑adjustable metal stands.
From $85.
From $85 plus shipping and taxes.
Primacoustic
Primacoustic Broadway
Primacoustic’s extensive range features an array of solutions aimed at everything from corporate projects to stadiums, but there’s plenty on offer for the studio crowd too. Broadband absorption is taken care of by the Broadway range, which feature a glass‑wool packing finished with either an acoustically transparent polyester fabric or a mesh sealed with a paintable latex coating. There are four sizes available — two rectangular and two square — three of which can be specified with either a square or bevelled front edge. As for ceiling‑mounted options, Primacoustic’s studio‑focused option comes in the form of the Stratus Cloud. Its design is based on that of the Broadway, and features a robust steel frame fitted with a crossbar that offers multiple mounting points along with link brackets that can be used to fix multiple units side by side. If you’re looking to kit out an entire studio, there are four full‑room kits available, along with a handy online calculator that helps you work out which products will best suit your space.
From $939.
From £920.40 including VAT.
Vicoustic
Vicoustic VicPattern Ultra Wavewood MkIIThe most basic broadband absorbers from Vicoustic fall into their Cinema range, which includes a selection of square panels that pair their VicPET filling material with either a flat or curved front face. One of the company’s most popular designs, though, is the VicPattern Ultra MKII, a square panel that houses a VicPET filling within an MDF/high‑pressure laminate frame assembly. The MkII version boasts increased low‑frequency performance compared to its predecessor thanks to an additional layer of VicPET, and comes fitted with a patterned faceplate that allows the panel to offer a combination of reflection and absorption; a choice of five pattern finishes are available, along with seven colour options. Helpfully, Vicoustic offer an upgrade kit that allows owners of the previous‑generation version of the Ultra to upgrade their panels to the new spec.
There’s also the VicPattern Ultra XL, a larger rectangular version of the popular design, and the Ultra Lite, a shallower version that’s focused on midrange absorption. Another neat addition to the range is the VicDisplay Guitar, which combines a midrange/high‑frequency absorber panel with a guitar wall hanger! The company also offer a range of room kits that bring together a combination of their absorbers, diffusers and bass traps.
From $529.
From £289 including VAT.