Sound Masking vs Acoustical Panels

Which do you need?

Here are some quick tips for understanding where either sound masking or acoustical panels should be used in your facility:

• Sound masking systems create speech privacy by gently raising ambient sound levels in a space. Therefore, sound masking is used in environments that are too quiet (a quiet space allows you to hear and understand surrounding conversations more easily).
• Acoustical panels absorb sound and can sometimes even block sound. Therefore, panels are used in environments that are too noisy or have too much sound or echo (reverberation).

Two easy ways to remember these general rules: sound masking needs to go where the "ears" (receiver of the sound) are; acoustical panels should go where the "mouth" (noise source) is. For example, panels are frequently used in lunchrooms and conference rooms — anywhere there is a high noise level or significant reverberation. Sound masking typically goes in open or closed plan offices for acoustical comfort and privacy.

In the majority of cases, sound masking is still needed to "cover" sound that is not absorbed or blocked — even when acoustical panels are in place.