Bass Trap Panels

Acoustic panels and bass traps both serve to improve sound quality in a room by absorbing sound waves, but they target different frequency ranges and serve distinct purposes.

Acoustic panels are designed to absorb mid to high frequencies, helping to reduce echoes, flutter, and general reverberation. These panels are typically thinner (1"–4"), made from materials like fiberglass or Rockwool, and are mounted on walls or ceilings at reflection points to improve clarity and speech intelligibility.

Bass traps, on the other hand, are built to absorb low-frequency sounds (bass), which tend to build up in corners and cause boominess or uneven bass response. They are thicker and denser (6” - 8”) than standard acoustic panels and are usually placed in room corners where bass energy accumulates, and they can also be placed on the ceiling in smaller rooms to prevent standing waves and bass build-up. Bass traps are essential for balancing the low-end, making them a vital component in recording studios, home theaters, or any treated room where critical listening is the focus.

The thicker an acoustic panel is, the more effective it is at absorbing low frequencies.

For a space like a busy restaurant or an office where you won’t have a lot of low frequency buildup, thinner panels like our (1.5” thick) Low-Profile Acoustic Panels will shine at mitigating reflections caused by lots of speech.

For a studio space where you need the most accurate listening environment possible, you want to tame the bass frequencies with thick traps, ideally 6” deep or more. Our Bass Trap panels excel at providing excellent absorption down to 120hz and installed with an air gap, that range is increased to 60hz.

Where you place your acoustic panels is very important, especially in studios, where critical listening is the main focus.

The main thing to consider are the reflection points in the room, where sound waves reflect and create an echo or reverb, so placing panels on the following reflection points is key:

• Corners: Corners are prone to sound reflections due to the way sound waves bounce off intersecting surfaces.

• Side Walls: Placing panels at ear level on the side walls can help absorb early reflections that reach the listener's ears.

• Front and Rear Walls: Panels on the front wall behind speakers and on the rear wall can absorb early and late reflections, respectively.

• Ceiling: Ceiling panels can reduce reflections from the ceiling, especially in rooms with high ceilings.

You also want to make sure your panels are as even spaced as possible to achieve the best echo reduction.

Don’t place all the panels on one side of the room! Make sure when you place a panel on one wall, there’s another panel being placed on the other wall across from it.

We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about your space. Fill out our FREE Room Advice Form for personalized installation and placement advice. And if you're in the Nashville area, we offer professional installation services too!