Frequently asked questions.
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What is 'sound'?
Sound is the vibration of molecules (medium air, water or solid material) generated by a sound source. Due to resistance of medium, these molecules move in waves. These vibrations are picked up by the ear / eardrum and perceived as sound by brain. Sound is affected by factors such as reflection, scattering and absorption when moving through a room.
Triplacoustics products provide both reflection, scattering but especially efficient absorption of incident sound. -
What is good acoustics in a room?
Good acoustics are determined by the balance between sound absorption, reflection, scattering and the size of the room, taking into account its function. We speak of pleasant acoustics when the sound in the room matches the expected sound comfort depending on its use (e.g. a concert hall versus a conference hall). If the sound matches the function of the room and the needs of the people in it, the acoustics are optimal.
Triplacoustics products provide efficient sound absorption of human speech voices and contribute to good room acoustics and desired reverberation times. This creates a comfortable and functional sound environment that meets the specific requirements of each room.
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What is reverberation?
Reverberation is the persistent sound you hear after the original sound source has stopped. This phenomenon can be disturbing, especially in rooms where human speech is the primary sound source.
At Triplacoustics, all our products are designed to significantly reduce reverberation caused by human speech. Our advanced acoustic panels effectively absorb sound, resulting in a clearer and more pleasant sound environment. -
What is sound absorption, reflection, scattering, transmission?
Sound behaves in different ways when in contact with surfaces:
- Sound absorption: The material converts part of the sound wave into heat energy.
- Sound reflection: Sound waves are reflected back in the same direction.
- Sound scattering: Sound waves are scattered in different directions.
- Sound transmission: Sound waves pass through a medium.
At Triplacoustics, our products for walls, ceilings and furniture optimise all these sound phenomena, resulting in improved acoustic quality in any room.
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What is difference between sound insulation and sound absorption?
Sound insulation prevents sound from travelling from one room to another by using specific techniques and materials. Sound absorption, on the other hand, reduces the amount of reflected sound within a room by using absorbent materials.
Triplacoustics products are ideally suited for sound absorption, not sound insulation. They improve acoustic quality by reducing reverberation and creating a more comfortable sound environment.
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What is frequency (Hz)?
Number of vibrations per second measured in Hz. It determines the pitch of sound. Higher frequencies mean higher tones perceptible.
For Triplacoustics products, the frequencies between 50Hz and 5000Hz are structurally relevant. -
What is bad acoustics in a room?
Poor acoustics means that the sound quality in a room is not optimal, which can lead to problems such as reverberation, echoes, poor speech intelligibility, and fatigue. This can occur in offices, meeting rooms, theatres, concert halls, classrooms, churches, restaurants, and homes. Causes are often too many hard surfaces, insufficient absorption, poor loudspeaker placement, improper insulation, or unsuitable room dimensions.
Triplacoustics products correct reverberation time by using absorptive wall and ceiling panels, or cabinet doors, to avoid or improve poor acoustics. Thus, we provide a more comfortable and functional sound environment.
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How is reverberation time measured?
T60 or RT60 is the measure of reverberation and represents the time it takes for the sound level to drop by 60 decibels after the sound source has stopped.
At Triplacoustics, we can calculate the exact reverberation time in a room using simple or complex acoustic calculation models. This is possible because all absorption values for each third octave band are measured in our laboratory.
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What are octave bands?
Octave bands are frequency bands used in acoustics to analyse the frequency spectrum of sound. These octave bands are useful for assessing sound quality and speech intelligibility in different environments.
Triplacoustics' acoustic reports show the third- Octave bands, as obtained during reverberation chamber testing lab, for all products on the technical datasheets. -
What is 'acoustic'?
Acoustics is the science of sound and how it behaves in different environments. It studies sound production, transmission, absorption, and reflection. Good acoustics ensures clear and intelligible sound without annoying reverberation or echoes.
At Triplacoustics, we improve acoustics in various spaces, such as offices, theatres and restaurants, with our high-quality absorptive wall and ceiling panels and acoustic cabinet doors. Our products help to correct reverberation time and provide optimal sound quality, tailored to the specific function of the room.
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What is the formula of Sabine?
Sabine's formula is used to calculate the reverberation time (RT60) of a room. This time is directly proportional to the volume of the room and inversely proportional to the amount and performance of the absorbing material. The formula reads: RT60 = V / 6 x ∑(Ai x αi).
At Triplacoustics, we use a simplified calculation model based on Sabine's formula for reverberation calculations in simple, rectangular rooms. For more complex calculations in larger rooms, all test data of our products are available to acoustic study agencies. This is how we ensure accurate acoustic analyses and optimal solutions.
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What types of materials are there for reverberation correction in a room?
Reverberation correction in a room can be achieved by using absorbent and scattering surfaces on walls, ceilings, furniture or other objects in the room. These materials can be porous and light (absorb high frequencies), perforated sheets (such as Triplacoustics' Helmholtz panels, which absorb mid frequencies), or panel resonators (thin sheets that vibrate and absorb low frequencies).
Triplacoustics products are high-quality Helmholtz absorbers designed to effectively absorb mid-frequency sounds to improve the acoustic quality in any room.
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What is a sound wave?
A sound wave is a longitude wave, namely air particles moving back and forth in the same direction as propagation direction wave.
Triplacoustics products are efficient absorption panels for human speech, producing sound waves at speeds of 343metres per second, with pitches relevant between 250 and 5000 Hz. -
What is optimal reverberation time?
The optimum reverberation time varies depending on the type of room and its intended use. Different spaces require different reverberation times to achieve the desired acoustic quality.
At Triplacoustics, we customise our products based on these specific requirements. For concert halls, a mix of long and short reverberation times is ideal for a rich music experience. In contrast, open-plan offices benefit from short reverberation times to ensure very good speech intelligibility. Our high-quality absorptive panels ensure that every room has the optimum reverberation time, tailored to the specific use and acoustic needs.
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What is sound pressure and decibels?
Sound pressure refers to the variation in air pressure caused by a sound wave relative to atmospheric pressure, measured in Pa (pascals). The sound pressure level, expressed in dB (decibels), is a logarithmic measure of this sound pressure. For the human ear, this ranges from the hearing threshold at 0 dB to the pain threshold at 130 dB.
At Triplacoustics, we focus more on sound absorption than sound insulation. While terms such as sound pressure and decibels are relevant to insulation products, our expertise lies in improving acoustic quality through advanced absorption panels. Our products are designed to minimise reverberation and echoes, creating a more comfortable and peaceful indoor environment.
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Functioning human hearing?
The human ear is a complex organ that captures sound waves, converts them into nerve signals and sends them to the brain, where they are perceived as sound.
For Triplacoustics products, the improvement of speech intelligibility in an indoor space is central. By correcting reverberation in a room, the comfort of a person with a poorly functioning human ear can still be greatly improved.