Everything You Need to Know About Acoustic Diffusers

What Function Does an Acoustic Diffuser Serve?

We’ve talked extensively about handling bass and reducing echo. While these are the most common acoustic problems, focusing only on them won’t give us the ideal sound. 

Diffusers play a crucial role in acoustic design and treatment, as some problems can only be addressed with their use.

The Two Most Common Acoustic Issues Our Customers Face

Most professional requests we receive stem from a familiar scenario: a client buys their long-awaited, carefully chosen Hi-Fi or home theater equipment, but despite adjusting every possible parameter, they still can’t achieve the desired sound quality.

However, when they listened to the equipment in the store, it sounded perfect. In most cases, this discrepancy is due to one of the two effects explained below.

Over-Dampening of High Frequencies and Lack of Acoustic Diffusers

In some cases, clients are aware of the importance of acoustics and begin their acoustic design using homemade units based on online information or friends’ recommendations.

It’s important to note that acoustic foam and Styrofoam, due to their density, are not suitable for absorbing or scattering low frequencies.

Homemade solutions often end up being “overly successful.” While absorbers do absorb sound waves, they can excessively dampen certain frequencies, making listening to music or watching movies unpleasant.

Strengthening of Bass Notes, Bass Distortion, and Unwanted Echo

Dampen the echo!

This leads us to the second most common problem: despite well-installed music equipment, a strong echo persists, ruining the experience of watching movies or listening to music.

At this point, some clients reach out to us for help with acoustic design. However, many initially try homemade solutions and buy “absorbers.” Only after these attempts fail do they seek our assistance for the following reasons.

However, the home-made solutions are “over successful”, i.e. the absorber absorbs the sound waves, but certain frequencies can be over dampened, which again makes the listening to music or watching movies unpleasant.

The examples above illustrate that sound needs not only to be absorbed but also scattered. To achieve clear, dynamic sound without echo, sound diffusers are essential.

How Does Sound Diffusion Work?

You’ve likely noticed that echoes decrease as you add furniture to a room. This happens because furniture acts as diffusers. Unlike random furniture, acoustic diffusers are designed to have a predictable and calculable impact on sound diffusion.

How do sound diffusion work?

This allows for precise planning and implementation.

This allows for precise planning and implementation.

Despite their irregular appearance, the surfaces of diffusers are carefully designed to reflect different frequencies in multiple directions.

The Impact of Material Density on Sound Diffusion

The denser the material used in diffusers, the lower the frequency they can divert. This results in several benefits:

• Direct echoes are reduced.
• Improvement in sound details and vocal clarity.
• A pleasant, natural sound is achieved.
• Increased spaciousness without creating an anechoic chamber.

2., What Can a Soundproofing Panel with a Diffuser Offer?

In our product range, we offer acoustic panels with diffusers. These units feature a diffusing face plate, allowing them to absorb certain frequencies while reflecting others.

This combination provides both absorption and scattering effects, similar to standalone diffusers.

Benefits of Acoustic Panels with Diffusers

Compared to broadband absorbers, these panels absorb more low frequencies (below 300Hz) and fewer high frequencies (above 600Hz). This balance prevents high frequencies from being over-damped in the room.

Perfect Acoustic – Comprehensive Acoustic Solutions with Sound Diffusion

Sound quality is a subjective matter. Some people prefer sharp highs, while others enjoy rich bass tones.

Sound quality is a subjective matter. Some people prefer sharp highs, while others enjoy rich bass tones.

Regardless of your preference, focusing solely on audio equipment and cables to achieve the ideal sound experience can lead to disappointment. Constantly purchasing new, supposedly better equipment is not the solution.

The key to achieving your desired sound quality lies in eliminating room distortions. Acoustic measurements, design, and our custom acoustic products can help you reach your goals. This process is known as acoustic treatment.

Understanding the Importance of Material and Placement in Acoustic Diffusers

While ceilings, walls, and windows can act as sound-reflecting surfaces, their flat, hard surfaces reflect all sound energy back in the same direction, causing echoes and creating an unpleasant listening experience. In contrast, acoustic diffusers, with their irregular surfaces of varying depths, break up sound energy into smaller parts. This distributes sound more evenly, resulting in a more balanced and spacious acoustic environment.

The Importance of Material

The material used for diffusive surfaces is crucial. Hardwood is often used for sound-absorbing and diffusing devices due to its excellent absorption properties. Other effective materials include acoustic cotton, acoustic silk, and imitation leather, all of which have sound-absorbing and scattering properties. For acoustic purposes, high-density, flexible, and fibrous materials are ideal. On the other hand, materials like cellular Styrofoam or egg boxes are unsuitable for acoustic design—they only catch dust. Generally, the higher the density of a material, the better its sound absorption capacity.

Strategic Placement of Diffusers

It’s unnecessary to cover the entire wall or ceiling surface. Instead, focus on covering the primary reflection points, which can be determined through acoustic measurements. Diffusers can be placed on walls, ceilings, or even on the floor with folding legs.

Customization and Aesthetic Appeal

Our diffusers come in various colors, patterns, sizes, and designs. This customization ensures that, in addition to their superior acoustic performance, they can also serve as decorative elements that complement any room’s style.

Written by Róbert Polgár