Do Acoustic Panels Work?
Yes, acoustic panels work for echo and reflections: in lab tests 2 inch Owens Corning 703 fiberglass absorbs 1.14 at 500 Hz and 1.16 at 1 kHz, so it takes in essentially all the sound that hits it. They don't work on noise from neighbors, and thin panels do little for bass.
What panels fix and what they don't
Echo, flutter
Yes
Mids and highs, 500 Hz up, are absorbed almost completely.
Bass
Partly
Comes down to thickness: 2 inch 703 takes 0.15 at 125 Hz, 4 inch takes 0.56.
| Panel, 2 in | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1 kHz | NRC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owens Corning 703 | 0.15 | 0.71 | 1.14 | 1.16 | 1.00 |
| Primacoustic Broadway | 0.45 | 0.83 | 1.07 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Auralex Studiofoam Wedges | 0.21 | 0.24 | 0.63 | 0.97 | 0.75 |
All three are reverberation room tests to ASTM C423, with 703 and the foam flat against the test surface. 1.0 means full absorption, and lab figures can read slightly above it.
How good panels are depends on placement
Panels work best where reflections reach your ears: put them at the first reflection points (where to place acoustic panels), go 4 inches thick or more for music (how thick acoustic panels should be), and use enough (how many acoustic panels you need). Ready-made options: best acoustic panels for a home studio. Full plan: treatment guide.
Related questions
Do acoustic wall panels actually work?
Yes, for reflections and echo. Lab tests to ASTM C423 show 2 inch fiberglass and glass wool panels absorbing about all the sound that hits them from 500 Hz up.
Do cheap foam panels work?
For highs and flutter echo, yes. 2 inch Auralex foam absorbs 0.97 at 1 kHz but only 0.24 at 250 Hz, so it leaves the low mids alone. More in acoustic foam.
More answers: Home recording FAQ