What Are the Disadvantages of Acoustic Panels?
The main disadvantages of acoustic panels are that they don't block sound, they can make a room sound dead if you overdo them, you need more of them than you'd expect, and the thick ones that handle bass take up wall depth.
No isolation
Panels absorb sound inside the room. GIK's soundproofing guide says they "do very little to block sound."
Over-damping
Too many thin panels soak up treble and leave bass, which GIK says sounds unnatural and fatiguing.
Cost
A 12 x 10 x 8 ft mixing room needs about 16 two by four foot panels to reach 35 percent wall coverage, per how many acoustic panels do I need.
Looks and depth
Panels that reach into the bass are 4 inches thick or more, and 8 inches deep with an air gap.
Why thin panels disappoint
Thin panels barely touch bass. So the ones that work are thick. Owens Corning's 703 board data sheet lists 0.05 absorption at 125 Hz for 1 inch board and 0.15 for 2 inch, against 0.56 for 4 inch board mounted flat on the wall.
Prices are in how much acoustic panels cost. If neighbors are the problem, panels are the wrong tool; see do acoustic panels keep sound out. Whether they're worth it at all is in do acoustic panels work, and the full plan in the home studio acoustic treatment guide.
Related questions
Do acoustic panels soundproof a room?
No. GIK says acoustic panels and foam absorb noise within a space but do very little to block sound, so neighbors will still hear you.
Are thin acoustic panels a waste of money?
Not for highs and flutter echo, but they do little for bass. Owens Corning's 1 inch 703 board absorbs 0.05 at 125 Hz, against 0.56 for the 4 inch board.
Do acoustic panels have any downside for recording?
Only if you over-treat with thin panels. GIK says a room that absorbs too much treble but ignores bass sounds unnatural, and on recordings that means boomy and dull.
More answers: Home recording FAQ