Frequently Asked Questions | AudioSilk

Our panels are made from recycled post-consumer plastic (PET), using an advanced process which creates a densely aerated, highly absorbent material. This is the same material that plastic drink bottles are made from, making them completely safe to handle with no protective gear required.

Yes, the panels are made from recycled post-consumer plastic (PET). This type of PET can be recycled again after use, so there's no need to destroy the planet just to get a good room sound.

Yes completely, there is no protective gear required, unlike when installing some sound insulation products (e.g. rockwool). AudioSilk panels are made entirely from recycled PET. The same material that a plastic drink bottle is made from. So they can be handled easily and safely with no gloves or mask.

Acoustic panels: Independently tested to EN 13501-1, achieving a Class B-s1,d0 reaction-to-fire rating.

Bass traps: Both the outer shell and internal filling are made from materials rated Class B-s1,d0 under EN 13501-1.

No, the panels are not fabric covered. They are made of a solid PET felt with an attractive finish, giving a striking aesthetic when displayed.

Our acoustic panels are fully reversible, so you can decide when mounting whether to display the AudioSilk logo, or go for a simpler look with no logo.

Our bass traps do not have a logo on them.

Yes. The panels can be cut easily using a craft knife or similar tool. This means that you can treat awkwardly sized/shaped parts of the room with no loss of performance.

Our bass traps contain a BassWool filling and are not designed to be cut or opened.

You can paint the panels, but in general we would advise against painting too much of the surface. If you paint the whole thing over, then it becomes a reflective surface, and doesn't absorb sound any more.

Some customers have successfully painted designs on the panels, but where the design leaves the majority of the panel surface unpainted. For this application, use a paint that works on plastic (PET) felt, for example flexible fabric paint.

This depends on the size of your room, its existing acoustics, and what you're trying to achieve.

For a typical small mixing or listening room, we recommend starting with around 4–6 panels, positioned to treat the main reflection points. This can noticeably improve clarity and stereo imaging at your listening position.

However, if you're trying to reduce echo and reverberation throughout a room, the overall amount of absorption becomes particularly important. A few carefully positioned panels may improve the sound at your desk without making the rest of the room substantially less echoey.

For spaces requiring greater reverberation control, we recommend increasing panel coverage and distributing the treatment around the room. Covering around 40–60% of the available bare wall area is a useful rough guide for a more heavily damped sound, although many rooms will need considerably less.

There's no need to tackle everything at once. Start with a sensible amount of treatment, assess the results, and add more as needed.

See our room treatment advice guide for more detailed recommendations and illustrated examples.

The best placement depends on how you're using your room and what you're trying to achieve.

For mixing and critical listening, start by treating the main reflection points around your speakers and listening position. These are the areas where reflected sound can interfere with clarity and stereo imaging, so careful positioning is particularly important.

For general echo and reverberation control, such as in rehearsal rooms, podcast studios and offices, the overall amount and distribution of treatment become especially important. Spreading panels across the walls can help create a more consistently controlled sound throughout the space.

Remember that treating individual reflection points won't necessarily eliminate echo throughout the entire room. If that's your goal, you may need additional panels to achieve sufficient overall coverage.

Our room treatment advice guide includes practical placement advice and illustrated examples.

For most rooms, acoustic panels are the best place to start. They absorb unwanted reflections across a broad range of frequencies, helping to reduce echo, improve clarity and create a more controlled acoustic environment.

In many applications, including podcasting, streaming, voice recording and general echo reduction, acoustic panels alone will provide all the treatment you need.

Bass traps provide additional absorption at lower frequencies, helping to control bass resonances that can make the sound boomy or uneven.

For serious music production, mixing and critical listening, bass control is especially important. We recommend combining acoustic panels and bass traps to achieve more balanced treatment across the frequency range.

Together, AudioSilk acoustic panels and bass traps form a complete acoustic treatment system, allowing you to address both unwanted reflections and troublesome low-frequency resonances.

You don't need to install everything at once. Start with panels to improve overall clarity, then add bass traps as you build up your treatment. For serious mixing rooms, we recommend planning for both from the outset, even if you install them in stages.

See our room treatment advice guide for more detailed guidance.

This is a common misconception about the purpose of acoustic panels, foams, etc. The panels are primarily designed for acoustic treatment (making the sound inside the room clear and accurate). Not so much for soundproofing (blocking the sound travelling between rooms), which is a separate issue. No panel on its own will be able to soundproof a room, despite what some manufacturers may claim.

Properly soundproofing a room will generally involve full-on and expensive structural modifications, e.g. installation of double walls, floating floors, vinyl mass, etc. The panels will provide a small amount of deadening of sound between rooms, especially for higher frequencies, so they may help a little, to make the sound less annoying to overhear. But they will not block sound completely.

Soundproofing is about preventing sound from entering or leaving a room, which typically requires structural modifications like double walls, floating floors, and specialized doors. Acoustic treatment (what our panels provide) improves the sound quality inside the room by controlling reflections and reverb. Our panels won't stop your neighbors from hearing your drumming, but they will make your recordings sound much clearer and more professional.

Yes. Both our acoustic panels and bass traps have been independently tested to the international ISO 354 standard for sound absorption.

We publish detailed sound absorption coefficients across different frequency bands, giving a much clearer picture of performance than a single-number rating such as NRC.

Our acoustic panels provide effective absorption across a broad range of frequencies, while our bass traps deliver additional low-frequency control. Together, they provide a complete acoustic treatment system, helping to create a more balanced and controlled listening environment.

You can see the results in our acoustic performance graphs, showing the performance of both products across the frequency range.

AudioSilk acoustic panels are designed for quick and easy installation, with both removable and permanent mounting options.

Removable installation: We recommend using 4 medium 3M Command strips per panel. These provide a strong hold and can be removed cleanly without damaging your walls when used correctly, making them ideal for rented spaces or experimenting with panel placement.

Permanent installation: Alternatively, you can use small nails, panel tacks, screws or spray contact adhesive.

For detailed instructions, see our installation guide.

AudioSilk bass traps are designed for easy corner installation, using the two D-rings on the rear and the supplied hanging cord.

Removable installation: We recommend 2 large 3M Command Utility Hooks, one on each side of the corner. Each hook is rated to hold up to 2.2 kg.

Permanent installation: Alternatively, use 2 securely fitted wall hooks, nails or screws, depending on your wall type.

Simply attach the supplied cord to the rear D-rings and hang the bass trap from the two hooks.

For step-by-step instructions, see our installation guide.

Yes, absolutely. Since the panels are very light, they are safe and easy to ceiling mount. It's not always required, but some rooms really benefit from treatment of the ceiling.

Removable installation: If using 3M Command strips to attach the panels to the ceiling, we recommend doubling the usual number of strips, using approximately 8 medium strips per panel instead of 4.

Permanent installation: Alternatively, you can use suitable mechanical fixings, such as screws or nails, or spray contact adhesive for a permanent installation.

For detailed instructions, see our installation guide.

Both our acoustic panels and bass traps can be installed using removable 3M Command products, making them ideal for rented accommodation or temporary studio setups.

When correctly installed and removed according to the manufacturer's instructions, Command strips and hooks can be removed cleanly without leaving holes or adhesive residue.

Permanent installation methods, such as nails, screws or spray adhesive, may leave small holes or require some wall repairs when removed.

Yes. We encourage experimenting with placement to get the best results in your room.

If you've used removable Command fixings, you can take down your panels or bass traps and reposition them. You'll generally need fresh adhesive strips when moving them, although the hooks themselves can be reused.

This makes it easy to adjust your treatment as your room setup changes or to add more panels and bass traps over time.

We ship using express delivery to the following countries:

USA: Express (1-3 business days), cost: $7.50, free delivery for orders over $100

Canada: Express (1-3 business days), cost: $8.50, free delivery for orders over $100

UK: Express (1-3 business days), cost: £6.50, free delivery for orders over £100

France: Express (1-3 business days), cost: €7.50, free delivery for orders over €100

Germany: Express (1-3 business days), cost: €7.50, free delivery for orders over €100

For very large orders the lead time may sometimes be longer. Feel free to contact us for a delivery estimate before placing a large order.

Once your order is acknowledged and your payment has cleared, you will receive a delivery tracking number by email. If you face any problems or delays with delivery, please get in touch with us using the chat feature.

We offer a full 30-day money back guarantee! Treating a room correctly will generally take some trial and error. Try our panels risk free. Add or subtract panels as necessary. If you don't get the result you want then just return for a full refund.

For larger orders, we may offer progressive discounts. Contact us directly to discuss pricing for bulk purchases, perfect for treating larger spaces or for group purchases with fellow musicians or creators.

Room modes are resonances that occur at specific frequencies based on your room's dimensions. They create peaks and nulls in the frequency response, making some frequencies sound louder or quieter than they actually are. This can lead to mix decisions that don't translate well to other listening environments. While our panels are primarily designed to address mid and high-frequency reflections, strategic placement can help manage some modal issues.

Flutter echo is a rapid series of reflections that bounce back and forth between parallel surfaces (like opposite walls). It creates a distinctive "fluttering" sound when you clap your hands in an untreated room. AudioSilk panels strategically placed on one or both of the parallel surfaces will break up these reflections and eliminate flutter echo.

Several simple methods can help you assess your room: the "clap test" (clap your hands and listen for any ringing or flutter echo), apps like ClapIR that measure room reflections using your smartphone, or for more detailed analysis, try Room EQ Wizard (REW) with a measurement microphone. The mirror technique helps identify reflection points.

Absolutely! Existing furniture can complement your acoustic treatment: bookshelves act as diffusers, sofas and upholstered furniture provide some absorption, thick curtains over windows help reduce reflections, and rugs on hard floors prevent sound from bouncing between floor and ceiling.

For regular maintenance, simply vacuum the panels using a brush attachment on low power. For spot cleaning, use a slightly damp cloth with mild soap if necessary, being careful not to saturate the fabric. Allow the panel to air dry completely.

With proper care, AudioSilk panels will last for many years. The PET core doesn't degrade over time, and has been selected for durability. The recycled PET material maintains its acoustic properties indefinitely.

Yes, our panels are safe for homes with children and pets. They're made from the same material as plastic drink bottles (recycled PET) with no harmful chemicals. As with any wall-mounted item, we recommend securing the panels properly to prevent them from being pulled down.

While we don't currently offer formal consultation services, we're always happy to provide guidance based on your specific situation. Send us photos of your space along with details about your setup and goals, and we'll offer recommendations for optimizing your acoustic treatment.

We're always here to help! You can contact us using the chat feature on our website, or by email. We typically respond within 24 hours during business days.

Our panels are designed for easy DIY installation, so we don't currently offer installation services. However, our panels are so straightforward to mount that most customers can complete the installation in under an hour with no special tools or expertise required.