What to Look for When Buying Acoustic Panels

Is your room loud? Does it have a bad echo? Sound can bounce off walls. This makes it hard to hear. It is a big problem.

You want a room that sounds good. You want to hear people talk. You want your music to sound clear. Bad sound makes people tired and upset. It can make a room feel cheap. You need to fix it. But how?

The answer is acoustic panels. These panels stop the echo. They make rooms quiet. But buying panels can be hard. There are many kinds. How do you pick the right one? This guide will show you. We will make it simple. You will learn what to look for when buying acoustic panels. You will learn about ratings, tests, materials, and how to make your room sound great.

Step 1 — Know Your Goal (Less Echo or Less Noise?)

First, what is your sound problem? This is the most important question.

If You Want Less Echo, You Need Good Absorption

Echo is sound bouncing in a room. This is called reverberation. It makes talk hard to understand. It makes music sound muddy. This is a common problem in an open plan office or a big lecture hall.

To fix this, you need room acoustics treatment. You need panels that soak up sound. This is called sound absorption. The panel’s grade for this is its NRC rating acoustic panels. NRC stands for Noise Reduction Coefficient. A high NRC rating is good. It means the panel is great at stopping echo. This is key for speech intelligibility improvement.

If You Want Less Echo, You Need Good Absorption

If You Want Less Noise From Outside, You Need Soundproofing

What if the noise comes from the next room? Or from the street? This is a different problem. A panel on your wall will not block this noise. This is the big absorption vs soundproofing difference.

• Absorption (like a sponge for sound) fixes echo inside a room. We measure this with NRC.
• Soundproofing (like a wall for sound) stops noise from moving between rooms. We measure this with STC, which means Sound Transmission Class. The STC vs NRC difference is huge.

To block noise, you need to build walls differently. You might need mass loaded vinyl (MLV) or a resilient channel. Simple acoustic foam panels will not work. That is not what they are made for.

Quick Guide: What Is Your Problem?

• Problem: Echo in my office, restaurant, or classroom.
  • Goal: You need echo reduction panels. You want better classroom acoustics. You want to reduce restaurant noise.
  • What to Look For: High NRC rating.
• Problem: My home theater or recording studio sounds boomy.
  • Goal: You need to control bass sounds. You need home studio sound treatment.
  • What to Look For: Special bass trap panels and thick broadband absorber panels. This is for low frequency absorption.
• Problem: I can hear my neighbors talking.
  • Goal: You need soundproofing, not just panels.
  • What to Look For: Look for STC ratings and construction materials, not panels.

Step 2 — Read the Numbers the Right Way

Do not trust marketing words. Ask for real numbers. Real numbers tell you if a panel works.

What is NRC? And What Are Absorption Coefficients?

The Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is a simple grade. It is an average. It tells you how much sound a panel soaks up. An NRC of 0 means it reflects all sound. An NRC of 1 means it absorbs all sound.

But this number is just an average. It looks at four sound frequencies: 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz. This is the mid high frequency absorption range, where most human speech is.

For a better picture, ask for the full frequency absorption chart. This chart shows the sound absorption coefficient at many different frequencies, from low to high. It might show data in octave band or 1/3 octave bands. This chart is much better than one single number. It tells you if a panel works for deep sounds (bass) or high sounds (voices). The Sabine equation, created by Wallace Sabine, is used to calculate the reverberation time RT60 in a room, and good absorption data is key to this.

Always Ask for the Test Report

Who gave the panel its grade? This is very important. Any company can print a number. You need to see a real test report.

Ask the seller for a test report from a real lab, like one from Intertek or another accredited acoustic lab. The test should follow a rule. The rule for absorption is ASTM C423 or ISO 354. These tests are done in a special reverberation room. If a seller will not show you a test report, do not buy from them. A real OEM acoustic panel supplier will always have this data.

Match the Panel to the Sound

What sound are you trying to fix?

• For clear speech: You need panels that are good at absorbing mid and high sounds. This is important for conference room acoustics and call center acoustics. The goal is speech clarity, measured by STI (speech transmission index), C50 clarity index, and D50 definition.
• For music: You need panels that absorb all sounds, from low to high. This is called broadband absorption. In a recording studio or podcast studio, you also need to manage room mode control and treat standing waves to avoid boomy bass. This requires a strategy that includes bass absorption.

Step 3 — Pick the Right Type of Panel

Panels are made from different things. Each one is good for certain jobs.

Fabric-Wrapped Fiberglass or Mineral Wool Panels

These are the most common panels. They use fiberglass board or mineral wool (like Rockwool) inside. A special breathable fabric for panels goes on the outside. These are great all-around porous absorber materials. They are a top choice for a home theater or a professional space.

PET Felt Acoustic Panels

These panels are made from recycled PET fiber. They are strong and easy to clean. PET felt acoustic panels are perfect for busy places like schools and offices. They come in many colors and shapes, like hexagon acoustic panels or 3D acoustic wall panels. Because they are made from recycled PET, they are a green choice and help with LEED contribution materials. We offer a wide selection of durable and stylish PET felt acoustic panels that are perfect for these high-traffic areas.

PET Felt Acoustic Panels

Wood Slat Acoustic Panels

Wood slat acoustic panels are very popular. They look beautiful. A wood slat wall panel has strips of wood, like a natural veneer or technical veneer, on a soft backing. That backing is usually a PET felt material. The sound goes through the slats and the soft backing absorbs it. When you buy a wood veneer acoustic panels, always ask for the sound test data. The look is great, but the performance is what matters. Check that the wood is FSC certified wood slats if sustainability is important.

Acoustic Foam

Acoustic foam is made from melamine foam or polyurethane foam. It is light and often cheap. An acoustic foam wedge is a common sight in a home studio. Foam is okay for light flutter echo control and taming high-frequency sounds. But it is not very good at absorbing low-frequency sounds. It is also not as durable as other panels.

Bass Traps and Corner Solutions

If your room has a problem with “boomy” bass, you need bass traps. These are very thick panels, often placed in corners. They are a form of low frequency absorption. A standard 1-inch panel will not do this job. You need special tools for bass trap panels and standing waves treatment.

Diffusion vs Absorption

Sometimes, a room can feel “dead” if you use too many absorption panels. You can reduce echo in room too much. The sound becomes flat and unnatural. The solution is diffusion. An acoustic diffuser scatters sound instead of absorbing it. This keeps the room sounding lively but controlled. Good room design uses both diffusion vs absorption.

Step 4 — Thickness and the Air Gap

How thick should a panel be? And should you leave a space behind it?

How Thickness Changes Sound

A thicker panel can absorb lower sounds. A thin panel mostly absorbs high sounds.

Look at this table. It shows how a thicker panel absorbs more sound, especially at low frequencies.

A good panel thickness selection is key. A 1-inch panel is good for an office to improve speech intelligibility. A 2-inch or thicker panel is better for a music room.

The Magic of an “Air Gap”

You can make a panel work even better for low sounds. Just leave a space behind it. An air gap behind panels can make a 1-inch panel perform like a thicker one. This is a smart trick for panel mounting with air gap. This can improve low frequency absorption without buying thicker, more expensive panels.

Step 5 — Where to Put Your Panels

The best panel in the world will not work if you put it in the wrong place.

Start With the Hot Spots

Sound acts like a ball bouncing off a wall. The first places it hits are called first reflection points. These are the most important spots to put panels. You can find these spots on the walls and ceiling between you and your speakers. Treating early reflections control is the fastest way to improve sound clarity. You should also treat parallel walls to prevent flutter echo control.

Room-by-Room Placement Ideas

• Home Office / Zoom Room: Put panels on the wall behind your monitor. This stops your voice from echoing back into the mic. It will improve video call audio.
• Restaurant / Café: Place panels on the ceiling and high on the walls. This will reduce chatter and create a more pleasant space. This is a huge part of restaurant noise control.
• Classroom / Training Room: The ceiling is key. Acoustic ceiling clouds or acoustic ceiling baffles help every student hear the teacher clearly. The goal is good classroom acoustics improvement.
• Podcast / Recording Room: Treat the first reflection points. Add bass traps in the corners.
• Home Theater: Treat first reflection points for the front speakers. Also, put panels on the back wall to absorb sound.

Where to Put Your Panels

How Many Panels Do You Need?

There is no single answer. It depends on:

• How big your room is.
• How much echo you have now.
• What the room is used for.

A good start is to cover 15% to 25% of your wall space. You can use an acoustic treatment calculator online to get a better idea. But remember, a few panels in the right spots are better than many panels in the wrong spots.

Step 6 — Safety Checks (Do Not Skip This!)

For any public or commercial space, safety is number one. You cannot just buy any panel.

Fire Ratings: What “Class A” Means

Fire safety is critical. Building codes, like the IBC (International Building Code), demand it. Fire rated acoustic panels are tested to see how they burn. In the USA, the test is ASTM E84. This test gives two numbers:

• Flame Spread Index (FSI): How fast a fire spreads on the panel.
• Smoke Developed Index (SDI): How much smoke the panel makes.

Class A fire performance is the best rating. A Class A fire rated acoustic panels has very low flame spread and smoke. For most public buildings, this is the law. In Europe, the rule is Euroclass EN 13501. A good rating is Euroclass B-s1,d0. The “s1” means very little smoke, and “d0” means no flaming droplets.

Always Ask for the Fire Report

Just like the sound test, ask for the fire test report. It should be from a known lab like UL Solutions or SGS. The report proves the panel is safe. Do not take a company’s word for it. When you work with an experienced manufacturer, you get products that meet these codes. Our panels are certified by CE, FSC, and SGS, ensuring they meet strict international standards for safety and quality.

Step 7 — Will the Panels Last?

A panel should not just work well; it should also look good for a long time.

High-Traffic Areas

In a school, office, or public lobby, panels can get bumped. You need impact resistant acoustic panels. Look for strong edges and a tough fabric. PET felt acoustic panels are very durable.

Cleaning and Care

Can you clean the panels? If they are in a restaurant or a school, they will get dirty. Ask if the fabric is a cleanable washable fabric or a stain resistant acoustic fabric.

Moisture and Mold

For a pool or spa area, you need moisture resistant acoustic panels. Normal panels can get damaged by water. You also want mold resistant acoustic panels to keep the air healthy.

Step 8 — Make It Look Good

Panels are a part of your room’s design. They should look great.

Fabric and Finishes

The fabric on a panel must be acoustically transparent. This means sound can pass through it to the core inside. A thick, painted, or vinyl fabric will reflect sound and ruin the panel’s performance.

Custom Looks

You can get panels in any color. You can even get printed acoustic panels with photos or art. Many companies offer custom logo acoustic panels or color matched acoustic panels. We specialize in this kind of OEM/ODM customization. With our 20,000㎡ production base, we can create custom size acoustic panels, unique shapes like hexagon panel designs, and special finishes to match your vision perfectly. Whether you need decorative acoustic wood panels or acoustic wall panel art, we can make it.

Design Tips

Use panels to make your room look better.

• Line them up with lights and windows.
• Create patterns with different colors or shapes, like with acoustic wall tiles.
• Choose a beveled edge acoustic panels for a softer, more finished look.

Step 9 — How to Install Your Panels

The hardware you use to hang your panels matters.

Common Mounting Options

• Z Clip Mounting: Strong and secure. Makes the panels easy to remove.
• Impaling Clip Mounting: A fast way to hang panels. Clips stick to the wall, and you push the panel onto them.
• French Cleat Mounting: A classic, strong way to hang heavy panels.
• Adhesive Mounting Acoustic Panels: Using glue is permanent. It can be fast, but it may damage your walls if you remove the panel.
• Ceiling Suspension Hardware: For hanging acoustic ceiling clouds or baffles.

The right installation spacing layout is crucial for both looks and performance. Our range of acoustic wall panels can be installed using various methods to suit your specific needs.

Removable vs. Permanent

Do you need to get to wires behind the panel? Will you change the room layout later? If so, choose a removable mounting system like Z-clips.

Step 10 — How to Budget for Panels

The cheapest panel is not always the best deal.

Compare “Cost Per Performance”

Do not just look at the price per panel. A cheap panel with a low NRC is not a good deal. You will just have to buy more of them.

When you get quotes, compare:

• The cost per square foot panels.
• The tested NRC / sound absorption coefficient.
• The fire rating and safety reports.
• If hardware is included.
• The acoustic panel warranty and lead time bulk acoustic panels.

Common Cost Traps

• No Test Reports: A panel with no verified test data is a big risk. You do not know what you are buying.
• “Soundproof” Claims: If a thin panel claims to be “soundproof,” it is a red flag. Remember the difference between absorption (NRC) and blocking (STC).
• Hidden Costs: Does the price include shipping? Hardware? Be sure to ask.

Working directly with a manufacturer with a one-stop production system can provide competitive factory-direct pricing without sacrificing quality or verified performance.

Buyer Checklist

Copy and paste this list when you talk to a seller.

• My Goal: Is my problem echo (NRC) or sound transfer (STC)?
• Performance Data: Can you send me the ASTM C423 or ISO 354 test report for the sound absorption coefficient?
• Fire Safety: Can you send me the ASTM E84 or EN 13501 fire test report?
• Material and Thickness: What is the panel made of? What is the thickness?
• Placement Plan: Where will the panels go? How many do I need?
• Installation: What hardware is included? How are they installed?
• Durability: Is the panel easy to clean? Is it impact resistant?
• Lead Time and Warranty: How long will it take to get them? What is the warranty?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do acoustic panels block noise from neighbors?
   No. They reduce echo inside your room. To block noise, you need soundproofing (STC).
2. What’s a good NRC rating for an office or restaurant?
   For speech, an NRC of 0.75 or higher is very good.
3. Are PET felt panels better than fiberglass panels?
   They are different. PET felt panels are more durable and often more decorative. Fiberglass panels often have a slightly higher NRC for the same thickness.
4. Do wood slat acoustic panels work without insulation behind them?
   No. The performance comes from the soft acoustic backing. Without it, they are just decorative wood slats.
5. Is acoustic foam worth it?
   It can be, for a small budget and for controlling high frequencies. But it is not as durable or as good at absorbing low frequencies as other panels.
6. How many panels do I need for a 10×12 room?
   It depends on the room’s use, but a good starting point is 6-8 panels of 2×4 feet, placed at first reflection points.
7. Should panels go on walls or the ceiling first?
   It depends on the room. For speech in a large room, the ceiling is often the most effective place. For music or a home theater, the wall’s first reflection points are key.
8. What fire rating should commercial acoustic panels have?
   Almost always Class A (or Euroclass B). Check your local building codes.
9. Does an air gap behind panels really help?
   Yes, it really improves low-frequency absorption.
10. What should I ask a supplier before ordering in bulk?
    Ask for test reports, acoustic panel samples swatches, information on quality control, packaging methods, and their policy on damaged items. For the best value on bulk orders, consider our cheap acoustical panels that still meet high-performance standards.