If you’re looking for a cheap and effective way to acoustically treat your home studio, foam acoustic panels might be for you.
Foam acoustic panels are simply pieces of foam that you hang on a wall to reduce unwanted sound and echoes from your room. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colours, so you’ll be sure to find one that works well and looks awesome in your studio
NRC
Before we get started, it’s important to understand what NRC is. NRC stands for noise reduction coefficients. It is measured on a scale from 0 - 1. 0 NRC absorbs no sound and 1 NRC absorbs all sound.
You won’t have to worry about NRC too much, but it is an important thing to keep in mind while looking for acoustic panels.
1 - Auralex Acoustics Studiofoam
These panels are good for a lot of things. They are small and fit into any room and they allow you to spot treat your home studio.
Features
2” Thickness
.80 NRC
Works well with spot treatment
2 - Auralex Acoustics SonoFlat Acoustic Absorption Foam
These foam panels come in multiple different colours and range in 1” thickness - ¾” thickness.
The panels are meant to dampen sound, and not soundproof an entire room, so keep that in mind. These panels are great for making some extra noise without disturbing people, as well as listening to your music without extra reverb
Features
Available in different colours
0.95 NRC
Dampens sound
3 - Foamily Ice Blue Acoustic Foam Egg Crate Panel Studio
Foamily panels are great for treating walls in a home studio, office, or even an entertainment theatre.
The tiles are 1 square foot and 1 inch thick. They do a great job of getting rid of reverb and flutter echoes.
Features
Reduces echo
1” thick
Affordable
4 - ATS Wedge Foam Acoustic Panels
These panels are larger and great for covering a whole room.
Features
2 square feet
Effective
Easy to install
5 - Siless Acoustic Foam Panels
Siless Acoustic foam panels are inexpensive and studio-grade. They come in packs of 12 with 12” x 12” dimensions.
Features
1” thickness
Visually pleasing
Lightweight
Inexpensive
6 - Auralex Acoustic Roominator Acoustic Absorption Kit
If you have a home studio but don’t want the hassle of having to do all the extra work to install studio panels, this kit will be great for you. It’s great if you are setting up a studio for the first time and you don’t have a lot of experience.
Features
Great for beginners
36 square feet in total
Includes everything you need
Some things to remember
Acoustic panels do not block low frequencies (look into purchasing a bass trap instead)
Bass traps are placed in corners, acoustic panels are placed in corners
Acoustic panels are not meant to soundproof rooms
The most important part of the room that should have panels is behind your studio monitors
Don’t put panels opposite each other
Written By: Leah Gerber
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Conclusion
Foam acoustic panels can be very effective when working in a home studio. Well most of them do the same thing, it’s important to consider if you want to treat a whole room or just parts of it, if you still want a room to be decorated nicely after hanging them, and if you are still a beginner with music.
Already own foam acoustic panels? Let us know which ones you have and what you like about them.