Does the Shape of Acoustic Foam Matter?
In the audio world, creating an environment that allows for top-quality sound is paramount. To achieve this, among other things, you’re going to want the perfect acoustic foam. However, many people ask what the best shape of acoustic foam is.
With many shapes and styles available, it’s hard to know which to choose. Just like the perfect audio recording, we’re going to be clear and precise. Let’s find out how much the shape of your acoustic foam really matters and what styles you should be opting for.
What Is Acoustic Foam?
Acoustic foam, also known as sound-absorbing foam, is a type of material that helps to absorb indirect sound waves to reduce echo, reverberation and background noise. This type of foam is typically used in recording studios, home theatres, live streaming rooms, podcast suites, or anywhere else where high-quality sound is integral.
Acoustic foam is an essential tool and one nobody should be without if they truly value clear sound quality. Of course, it can’t work alone. Things like a decent microphone and high-end studio monitors are tools that are going to help you create that perfect sound. However, if the sound being recorded or played back is being ruined by interference, you’ll never be satisfied with the finished result.
Depending on the shape of a room and what’s inside it, this level of interference could be minimal or quite significant. When you place the right acoustic foam in a room at optimal reflection points, the difference should be instantly recognisable; especially if you’re noticing things like a lot of echoes.
What Shape of Acoustic Foam Should I Choose?
Now we’ve covered a little bit about what acoustic foam is, let’s move on to whether you should be considering the shape of your foam.
You’ve probably noticed there are a lot of different styles of acoustic foam out there. From classic wedge tiles to pyramid profiles and even hexagonal shapes. Not to mention things like your standard egg-crate style foam (also known as convoluted) to your less conventional shapes like our wave-profiled tiles.
Here at GB Foam, we’ve got the tools and experience to cut foam to practically any shape or size you need. We’ve made all sorts of unique acoustic foam designs over the years. Whilst these all look great, we want you to know that the quality of the acoustic foam, coupled with how thick it is and where you’re choosing to place it, is going to have a much greater effect on your sound absorption rate than the shape alone.
That’s not to say that profiled acoustic foam offers no benefits, the designs are predominantly there to help diffuse sound waves to reduce echo and reverberation. What we’re saying is that you’re better off concerning yourself with the quality of the foam and its thickness. If you prefer the way an acoustic pyramid tile looks over a wedge design, choose the pyramid design and vice versa.
So, Does Shape Matter When It Comes to Acoustic Foam?
Shape does matter when it comes to acoustic foam but it’s not nearly as important as foam quality and thickness.
The thickness of the foam determines its ability to absorb different frequencies. Thinner foams (but not too thin) are typically used for absorbing higher frequencies, while thicker foams are more effective at absorbing lower frequencies. That’s why bass traps are much thicker than tiles are. Similarly, an acoustic product made from high-quality foam will not only perform better but will also likely last you longer.
It’s always best to source your acoustic foam from a reputable supplier and make notes of performance indicators such as the NRC rating (Noise Reduction Coefficient) of the foam as well as its level of fire resistance.
Ultimately, choose an acoustic foam design that suits your style and source it from trusted suppliers. If your acoustic treatment products are thick enough and made from high-quality materials, you should see an improvement in room acoustics.
Here at GB Foam Direct, we stock a variety of acoustic foam designs in a range of striking colours. Whether you want to opt for a classic wedge profile or something more unique we’ve got what you need. You can choose from colours including grey, red and blue. We even stock Class 0 foam with high fire-resistance and these have a handy, self-adhesive backing.
Here are just a few examples of what we stock. You can find even more on our dedicated acoustic foam page.
Talk to Our Team
If you’d like to learn more about our acoustic foam products or how we can help you with your next project don’t hesitate to get in touch. Call our experts on 01494 441177, email sales@gbfoam.com, or fill out this simple contact form.
Cameron has emerged as a key marketing expert since joining GB Foam Ltd in 2017. A graduate of the University of Winchester, with a professional background in Public Relations; he has combined his content writing and brand awareness expertise with an in-depth knowledge of foam products and foam conversion technology to enhance the company’s marketing strategies and industry presence. Cameron has led numerous marketing campaigns, in both B2B and B2C segments, to further brand recognition and open up new business avenues worldwide.