Sound transparency is not the same as sound insulation. But although we only supply sound-transparent fabrics, these play a key role when it comes to improving rooms with sound-absorbing measures that are attractive yet effective. Here is an overview of how optimal sound insulation can be achieved with the right choice of materials in combination with Akustikstoff.
It often starts with a misunderstanding: “I am looking for a fabric that blocks sound for my home cinema. Which of your products should I choose?” Our response is usually another question: what exactly are you planning to do? This often leads to a detailed conversation, because when it comes to “sound-insulating fabrics” we are not the right place to turn. In fact, fabric is rarely the best material to reach that goal.
What does Akustikstoff.com acoustic fabric do?
People searching for sound-absorbing textiles usually want one thing: quiet. They want sound absorbed, reverberation reduced, unwanted noise minimised. That is not what our fabrics are made for. Akustikstoff.com fabrics are designed to let sound waves pass through as freely as possible. It should not colour the sound of hi-fi loudspeakers, home cinema systems or studio monitors. It should neither reflect nor absorb sound. In short, it is meant to be acoustically transparent.The opposite of sound-transparent Akustikstoff.com fabrics are heavy stage and curtain fabrics. These are dense, heavy and usually have a matte, slightly fluffy texture that absorbs both light and sound. The classic example is stage molleton. Suspended freely and from a weight of about 500 grams per square metre, this mostly cotton-based fabric can noticeably reduce reflections in a room. Thick carpets or wool blankets can achieve a similar effect.
The drawback is that such solutions are not very attractive. Few people want to line an entire room with molleton and give it the atmosphere of a backstage area. The era when huge wall hangings counted as decoration is long past, and hardly anyone seriously considers hanging wool blankets on their living-room walls.
The secret of effective room optimisation
So how can reverberation be reduced in an office, a home studio acoustically improved, or the sound of a hi-fi system optimised? The answer lies in materials that absorb the maximum possible sound energy across the audible spectrum. These include panels made of acoustic foam as well as softer boards made of wood fibres, jute, hemp or sheep’s wool, which are also used for ecological building insulation. Mineral wool and rock wool products may be cheaper, but they should be avoided indoors for health reasons.Mounted in frames and fixed to walls or used as free-standing partitions, these panels are very effective in reducing sound, particularly reflections caused by hard, flat surfaces such as floors and walls.
This is where sound insulation meets acoustically transparent fabric. Effective absorbing materials are rarely visually appealing. To cover them attractively, you need a fabric that is as transparent as possible. Only then can all the sound waves reach the absorber behind it. If some of the sound is blocked by the covering, it cannot be absorbed, and the result will be mediocre. The fabric must hide the absorber visually while allowing every tone to pass through unhindered. In practice, this combination of hidden sound-absorbing elements on walls and ceilings together with a covering of sound-transparent Akustikstoff looks just like the photo on the left. When refurbishing the Whitehouse Studios in Cologne, studio builder Dennis Busch chose wall and ceiling panels clad in Akustikstoff.com fabrics in different colours. The result is studio spaces with optimal acoustics that also feel fresh and inspiring thanks to their aesthetic design and vibrant colour scheme.As so often, the challenge lies in choosing the right material for the right purpose. Sound insulation is complex, and thick fabric alone will rarely give satisfactory results unless an entire room is covered. Those who are simply looking for sound-insulating fabric will find it at a stage supplier, but not here. And that is no bad thing. We prefer not to offer half-measures but to focus on our specialty: fabrics that let sound pass freely.
So if you need maximum acoustic transparency, whether for covering loudspeakers, designing exhibition stands or cladding absorbers, you are in the right place. Our “Find Speaker Cloth” tool will guide you step by step to the best fabric. And if you are still unsure, we are happy to help and explain which solution fits your project.