Acoustic Panel Placement - The Mirror Trick!

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Sound above 400Hz is considered directional. The higher the frequency, the more directional the sound waves tend to be. In a home theatre or a 2-channel listening room, these waves bounce off nearby walls and produce noticeable second-order reflections that compete with the direct sound from the loudspeakers.

You can easily control these reflections by strategically placing acoustic panels along the side walls to absorb them. Generally, mount them at ear and/or speaker height and position them along the wall to capture the early reflections from the loudspeakers.

The Mirror Trick

For optimal placement, use the mirror trick. To do this, you will need an assistant!

• Sit in the listening position.
• Have your assistant move a mirror across the wall surface between you and the speakers.
• Using a pencil, mark the beginning and end points where the speakers are visible in the mirror.
• Note that you will want to view the left and right speakers (and center if used) in the mirror.
• This will define the area that would be ideally treated.
• Repeat for the second side.

Mount your Primacoustic panels to the wall using Impalers. You do not need to cover the full area; covering most of the surface will provide ample control. If you are unsure how much treatment you need, check out this article.

After treating the side walls, you can further improve control by absorbing the rear reflections on the wall behind the sitting position. For this, turn around while remaining in the listening position and then follow the same approach by marking the wall where you can see the speakers in the mirror. Primacoustic Scatter Blocks™ are a good option in this instance since they offer general area absorption without completely deadening the room. Too much absorption will remove the energy and excitement.

As a final measure, for those seeking maximum definition, placing a couple of 3" thick acoustic panels behind the loudspeakers on the front wall will help eliminate comb-filtering caused by omnidirectional low frequencies emanating from the loudspeaker.

A common question we receive is where to place the acoustic panels once you've purchased them. Whether you have acoustic ceiling clouds, art-wrapped acoustic treatment, or standard fabric-wrapped acoustic panels, by spacing and installing them properly, you can greatly improve the efficiency and aesthetics of your space.

Acoustic Panel Placement Guidelines

Our trained and experienced team of installers follow a few basic rules when installing acoustic panels in a space to minimize reverberation, including:

1. Symmetry: This is simple but not always easy. Panels should be balanced in a space, but multiple patterns like windows, doors, and A/C vents often exist. There can also be penetrations or obstructions like lights and exit signs. Where possible, observe the primary symmetrical pattern and minimize changes in spacing between panels when patterns must be broken.

2. Spread them out: Panels become less effective if they're all placed together in a corner. This is intuitive since only a small amount of the sound waves will reach that corner in the first half-second or second after the noise source occurs.

   • A corollary to this rule is to ensure that no two parallel walls are left untreated. If this happens, standing waves may develop in the space.

3. Don't place them too high: While hanging acoustic panels well above eye level prevents any imperfections or stains from being seen, it also increases the time it takes for sound to reach them. This can adversely affect the acoustic treatment.

Area Principle for Acoustic Panel Placement: e~P/A

The efficiency of your panel layout is proportional to the Perimeter of the panels divided by the Total Surface Area of the panels. For a given number of panels, the surface area doesn't change. However, by spreading out the panels, the perimeter of the treatment grows significantly, resulting in a more efficient layout.

For example, if you have only 4'x8' panels, four of them will give a square footage of 124 sf. The minimum perimeter occurs if all four panels are placed so that their long sides are touching, with only 48' of perimeter. By spreading them out with 4' gaps in between the panels, the perimeter of the entire set of panels increases to 72', and the efficiency of the layout increases by 50%.

Acoustic Panel Layouts - Do’s and Don’ts

The color, shape, and size of your acoustic panel selection all affect the location where you can place them. Following core principles and guidelines ensures an aesthetic finish that also efficiently improves the acoustics in your space.

DON’Ts for Acoustic Panel Layouts:

• Put acoustic wall panels too close to the ground where they will be bumped or get dirty and dented.
• Place the panels too high where sound will take longer to reach them.
• Place all panels directly together in the same area, reducing the P/A ratio.
• Leave two parallel walls untreated—this allows standing waves and flutter echo, even in relatively small rooms.
• Hide the treatment. If the foam, fiberglass, or other absorptive material is hidden under chairs or tables, its effectiveness is greatly reduced.

Instead, DO this for Acoustic Panel Layouts:

• Place the panels symmetrically, using the wall length and any sub-patterns (lights, grids, doors) to dictate the best spacing.
• Spread the acoustic panels out to improve the efficiency of the acoustic treatment.
• Use impact-resistant acoustic panels if in a gym or other lively environment where they are likely to be tested.

Placing Acoustic Panels to Maximize Sound Panel Effectiveness

No matter where you are using them, remember to follow these rules of thumb when hanging acoustic panels:

1. Hang them symmetrically—keep the spacing consistent between adjacent acoustical wall panels.
2. Space them out—don’t hang all acoustical panels in a single area, or on a single wall. Instead, distribute them evenly across the entire space.
3. Don’t place panels too high—keep acoustical panels within 12-14' AFF (above finished floor). However, you may want to place them at least 6' off the ground to minimize touching by children or curious patrons.

In addition to placing acoustic panels, see our video on determining reverberation time in a space. This measurement can give you an idea of how much absorptive material is needed.

For more acoustic wooden slats panels information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.