Do Soundproofing Wall Panels Work
An overview of the best soundproofing panels and acoustic wall panels
The award winning and best selling soundproofing panel for soundproofing a wall is the ProSound™ SoundBoard 4™. The best selling acoustic wall panels for improving the acoustics within a room are the ProSound™ Acoustic Wall Panels.
Are you looking for soundproofing Panels or sound absorption?
Soundproofing wall panels and acoustic wall panels are completely different products and can't be interchangeably used.
So what is the difference between soundproofing and sound absorption? How do you know if you need to use soundproofing wall panels or acoustic wall panels?
If you are trying to block noise from getting into or out of a room, then you need to look at soundproofing the wall with soundproof wall panels. This could be trying to block the unwanted noise from noisy neighbours through your party wall from. e.g. TV noise, music, talking, snoring etc. Research from Compare the Market revealed that noise complaints to UK councils happen every two and a half minutes, with the top nuisance complaint being that of noise.
However, if you are looking to improve the room acoustics within a space, then you need to look at sound absorption and acoustic wall panels. This is common in communal spaces such as classrooms, village halls, schools, restaurants and also used to reduce echo and reverberation in music studios and home cinema rooms.
Learn more about the difference between Sound Absorption and Soundproofing Panels
How Soundproofing Panels Work
The SoundBoard 4 is the biggest selling direct to wall soundproofing wall panel. Unlike acoustic wall panels, the SoundBoard 4 is used to help reduce unwanted airborne noise through a party wall. So how do you know if the SoundBoard 4 is the correct soundproofing solution for you?
SoundBoard 4™ Soundproofing Panel
Soundproofing Wall Panels FAQ's
List of Services
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How does the SoundBoard 4 Soundproofing Panel Work?
Airborne sound is blocked by mass, so the more weight and density a product has, the harder it is for sound to pass through. The SoundBoard 4 features acoustic plasterboard and two layers of mass loaded vinyl which are very heavy and help to block certain frequencies of airborne noise. SoundBoard 4 also contains a layer of closed cell foam which helps to add some resilience to the wall. Because sound is a vibration, this layer helps to dampen some of that vibration.
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How much space does a Soundproof Wall Panel take up?List Item 1
SoundBoard 4 is an incredibly slim 30mm thick and adds 29kg of mass per m2 to a wall.
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Is the SoundBoard 4 Soundproofing Panel Easy to Install?List Item 2
Yes, the SoundBoard 4 is an easy direct to wall soundproofing panel. Installed with 9 screws per board directly into the existing wall and can be installed by a DIYer or local tradesperson.
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Can Soundproofing Panels be used on Solid and Stud Walls?List Item 4
SoundBoard 4 is an excellent wall soundproofing panel for internal stud walls. This is because stud walls are very lightweight, so adding the mass of the SoundBoard 4 can significantly improve the walls performance against unwanted airborne noise.
For solid walls, this becomes slightly more complex and often a solution that decouples from the exisiting wall such as the ReductoClip System is required.
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In what situation should Soundproof Wall Panels be used?
On internal stud walls to help reduce airborne noise and on solid party walls in some situations where there are clearer, higher pitched noises needing to be reduced.
SoundBoard 4 is also a good choice when there are physical constraints which determine the thickness of the soundproofing which can be used. e.g. if there is a door frame or window frame close to the offending wall.
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Will Soundproof Wall Panels block loud airborne noise and impact noise through a solid wall?
For loud levels of airborne noise and impact noise (such as doors slamming) you need a system that is designed to absorp vibration energy.
This is also required for lower frequency noises which naturally have more vibration e.g. the bass from music, snoring and deeper male voices. These all require a soundproofing solution that decouples from the original structure such as the ReductoClip System.
How Do Acoustic Wall Panels Work?
What happens if you are looking to improve the acoustics within a room, rather than soundproof a wall?
If you are looking to improve the acoustics within a room, then this can be done easily with sound absorption products.
Sound energy will bounce off smooth, hard surfaces (in a similar way a rubber ball bounces off the ground). This repeated bouncing of sound energy creates an amplifying effect and makes the noise within a room appear much louder. This is why it can sometimes be hard to have a conversation within a communal space such as a restaurant even when the person you are trying to speak to is only a few feet away.
How sound absorption acoustic wall panels work
The image above shows how the soft material used in the blue acoustic wall panel (shown on the right hand image) is designed to absorb sound energy helping to stop it from bouncing around the room.
This in turn helps to make the room acoustics become clearer and quieter because less sound energy is travelling and amplifying around the room. The below video highlights the big improvement in acoustics within an office space once the ProSound Acoustic Wall Panels have been installed.
Acoustic Treatment: Before and After Test
The Best Acoustic Treatment Panels
Sound Absorption Acoustic Wall Panels FAQ's
List of Services
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Can Acoustic Wall Panels Be Customised?List Item 1
Absolutely. The panels can be customised by colour and shape. Photos can also be printed on them.
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Are Acoustic Wall Panels Easy To Install?List Item 2
They are very easy to install and have been developed so that usually everyone can mount them themselves. A comprehensive installation guide can be downloaded from The Soundproofing Store website and there is also an installation video. If you don't want to install the panels yourself, a local tradesperson would have no difficulty.
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How Many Acoustic Wall Panels Will I Need?List Item 3
Simply contact The Soundproofing Store with images and room dimensions and we'll calculate the correct quantity for you.
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Can Acoustic Wall Panels Be Used As A Pin Board?List Item 4
Yes, the wall panels can be used as a message or pin board.
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Do Sound Absorption Products Have To Be Positioned On A Wall?
Sound absorption solutions can also be used on the ceiling. Take a look at The Soundproofing Store's Acoustic Ceiling Rafts and Acoustic Ceiling Baffles as an alternative depending on the design of the room, or if there is limited wall space available.
High performance acoustic wall and ceiling panels are available in a large variety of colours, shapes and sizes to suit the aesthetics of any room. They make a big difference to the acoustics within a room and are very simple to install.
Soundproofing Panels For Walls Summary
The advice of the expert team at The Soundproofing Store is to always use the highest performing system you can depending on the space you can lose from your wall and also the budget you have to spend. There is no such thing as over soundproofing, but there is such a thing as under soundproofing.
Soundproofing panels such as the SoundBoard4 are an excellent solution when used in the correct circumstances and are especially suited to the use on internal stud walls, or for clear, higher frequency airborne noise on solid walls.
It is important to use the correct wall soundproofing solution depending on the type of noise problem being heard and the construction of the wall. If you are looking for soundproofing wall panels to reduce the noise being heard from noisy neighbours and are unsure if they are the right choice of soundproofing, then please speak to an expert. Feel free to contact us on the number below, or by filling in the below contact form. Whatever your soundproofing or sound absorption question, we are here to help.
Author
Sam Fessey heads up the Sound Absorption department within The Soundproofing Store. With a huge amount of experience in acoustics, his extensive knowledge is invaluable in working with all types of settings in helping to transform noisy environments into peaceful, productive spaces for people to enjoy.
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