SA600/150 Broadband Acoustic Foam Panels (Box of 4)

Box of 4 x SA600/150 high performance broad frequency acoustics panels( RRP $316). The SA600/150 is a unique 150mm thick multi-purpose acoustic panel designed for installation in critical listening and recording areas requiring broad frequency absorption and specifically, low frequency absorption.The SA600/150 can be installed on flat walls, as a free standing desk panel, or installed across the room corners(for enhanced bass trapping) The main aims of treating a listening room is to achieve accurate stereo (or 5.1) imaging and a flat frequency response. At the same time some natural "liveness" to the room should be retained to make the room a pleasant environment, as well as to avoid the overuse of effects (when mixing). This "liveness" means we should be trying to achieve similar reverberation times across the audible spectrum. In terms of acoustic energy controlling high frequencies is very easy but controlling low frequencies is very difficult. So therefore the first stage of any acoustic treatment should to deal with low frequencies first. Thin acoustic treatments unfortunately have no effect on absorbing low frequencies as the effectiveness of acoustic foam to absorb lower frequencies is directly related to thickness.A common error is the overuse of thin high frequency absorbing foam (for example egg shell foam) with no low frequency absorption at all. This results in very short high frequency reverbs times, and conversely, very long low frequency reverb times resulting in a bass heavy muddy room. This also results in large inaccuracies in low frequencies due to addition and cancellation (room modes). The result is that "the mix" translates poorly to other playback systems with either too much bass in the mix or not enough. The philosophy behind the SA600/150 was to develop a cost effective broad frequency absorber as an alternative to traditionally expensive bass traps. As the ability of acoustic foam to absorb lower frequencies is directly related to thickness it was necessary that the SA600/150 be 150mm thick. The the SoundAcoustics SA600/150 profile consists of two areas of differing anechoic wedges and also includes a unique air gap design on the rear that suspends more than 50% of the panel off the wall by 20mm. The absorption characteristics of this panel are 100% absorption from 20Khz down to 160Hz rolling off to a still considerable 60% absorption at 100Hz. wall. SA600/150 also incorporates a number of unique design features that allow easy and simple installation. The panel features staple gun access channels on the sides as an alternative to installation with adhesive. The panel can also be hung on 3M removable hooks for easy installation and removal (very useful for room tuning). For desk installation the panel can be placed free standing either behind the monitors or to the side on the monitors absorbing first reflections. As with all SoundAcoustics products, evaluation and testing of the SA600/150 has taken place at the accredited independent testing acoustic laboratory at RMIT (Melbourne). The SA600/150 is a true high efficiency broadband/low frequency absorber suitable for the most demanding listening environments. The SA600/150 is manufactured from high density combustion modified polyurethane acoustic foam and comes in the standard colour of charcoal grey. see www.soundacoustics.com.au for further details.