Understanding Infrared Signals
Infrared (IR) radiation is invisible light within the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths ranging from approximately 780 nanometers to 1 millimeter. It lies just beyond visible red light and extends into the terahertz range. In physics, IR primarily refers to electromagnetic waves that we perceive as heat without seeing them. You can feel IR as gentle warmth on your skin, and thermal imaging cameras utilize the infrared spectrum to display temperature differences in images.How Your IR Remote Control Works
When you press a button on your remote control, an infrared LED emits IR radiation at a wavelength of about 940 nm. This invisible light is not emitted continuously but in rapid pulses modulated at a carrier frequency between 36 and 38 kHz. The receiver in your AV device contains a bandpass filter that isolates this specific wavelength and interprets the modulated pulses as control commands. This design ensures that your device is insensitive to ambient light, while even reflected IR signals are sufficient for reliable operation.
Before/After: A front panel covered with acoustic fabric now creates a clean look in the living room of our customer Nicolas Teillot – and the remote controls still work flawlessly. Many thanks for the photos.
Why Equipment Hidden Behind Acoustic Fabric Remains Controllable
Modern living and studio spaces often aim to conceal AV equipment behind closed doors or within decorative shelving. Concealed devices offer a cleaner look without visible electronics—but the direct "line of sight" between the remote control and IR receiver is lost. This is where our acoustic fabric excels: it allows not only sound to pass through almost unhindered but also over 70% of IR radiation—even at wavelengths around 940 nm. Thanks to its thin material and open structure, sufficient light passes through the fabric to receive even indirectly reflected signals.The Science Behind It: Material, Structure, and Diffusion
The IR permeability of our acoustic fabric is based on three factors. The combination of these properties ensures that your concealed electronics remain reliably controllable, even behind large fabric fronts:Low Fiber Absorption: Polyester (PET), the primary material of our speaker fabrics, exhibits minimal absorption bands around 940 nm. The typical molecular vibrations of C–O, C–H, or N–H occur in the mid-infrared range (from ~2 µm), not in the near IR, allowing IR light from a remote control to pass through the fabric virtually unimpeded.
Open Structure: The fine mesh of our covering fabrics permits IR pulses to pass through with minimal reflection or scattering losses. Studies show that porosity, fabric thickness, and moisture significantly influence IR permeability: the more air-permeable (and acoustically transparent) the material, the lower the signal loss.
Wide Diffusion Angles: IR LEDs in remote controls emit a relatively broad pulse light. Even with an off-axis incidence of up to ±45°, enough photons reach the receiver to activate it. This means that a certain degree of light diffusion by the fabric fibers has little impact on the reliable functioning of the remote control.
Practical Tips
To maintain optimal IR permeability, ensure that the acoustic fabric is mounted taut and wrinkle-free. In its unstretched state, the fabric's mesh is naturally smaller, which can affect sensitivity. For very wide surfaces (from about 140 cm), we recommend using modular panels—this facilitates tensioning and ensures a uniform appearance.Position the IR receiver within the furniture so that it is not obscured by profiles or decorative moldings. Also, ensure that the distance to the fabric is as small as possible to guarantee reliable operation of the IR receiver.
You can visualize the fabric's permeability using your smartphone camera, as these cameras can detect IR light in video mode: hold a piece of acoustic fabric between a remote control and the camera, and you'll see the pulsed infrared light. For a practical test, you can order a free sample.
Infrared light made visible with a smartphone camera: IR remote control placed directly behind a piece of acoustic fabric (magnified). The normally invisible signal is clearly visible inside the circle.
Conclusion
With our acoustic fabric, you can conceal entertainment electronics behind an elegant fabric front. Thanks to the physical properties of our acoustic fabric—its open mesh structure and thinness—you can use your IR remote control as usual, even when the equipment is hidden. This way, you combine aesthetics, sound quality, and user comfort in a modern living or studio design. Numerous renowned AV furniture manufacturers, such as plauborg.dk, have been relying on these advantageous properties of our covering fabrics for many years.
An AV furniture piece by Danish manufacturer plauborg.dk, covered with the infrared-permeable acoustic fabric from Akustikstoff.com