A vibrant atmosphere is one which has a broad range of sounds across the full frequency spectrum (0-4000Hz), all contributing together. In a social setting, vocal noise (80-350Hz) dominates and is often recorded at over 100dB (85dB is permanent hearing damage) whilst all other sounds (music, glasses clinking, barrista, open plan kitchen, general ambience) in a good venue will hum along at 60-65dB. If you can bring your vocal noise down to this same level, whilst not compromising or absorbing your other sounds, you will be left with a perfect vibrant ambience.

Why don't absorption or sound deadening techniques work for vocal noise?

In normal conversation, the fundamental frequency of human speech is men 80-130Hz, women 180-250Hz, children 350Hz. This is the "pitch" of the sound. Consonants are higher frequency, as are subsequent harmonics of speech, but it is the fundamental harmonics 80-350Hz that make a room resonate and reverberate, as these are the ones that are not absorbed. Think of it like a crystal wine glass, you rub it at one frequency, and it rings at a higher frequency, but if you stop rubbing it, it stops ringing. As a comparison, a glass clinking is 4000Hz, a bird whistling is 10,000Hz. To absorb a wavelength effectively, you need the material to be half of its wavelength. As the frequency drops to base levels, the sounds wavelength increases. A females fundamental vocal wavelength is 1.5m long, a males fundamental vocal wavelength is over 3.5m long. So you would need absorbing tiles or blocks to be 0.75m to 1.75m thick to work. Sound absorbers, acoutic tiles, sound deadeners, diffusers, carpets, curtains, and soft furnishings actually remove your higher frequency sounds, which are the ones you want to keep! This is your vibrancy!

Why is my establishment so noisy when it is only half full?

Sound will continue to bounce around the room, especially if you have many hard, polished surfaces. An echo from one person often seems like 4 people are talking, so you can understand what 20 plus people all echoing sounds like. If one frequency dominates, it sets up standing waves between two parallel surfaces and this reverberation amplifies the noise.

How are quiet acoustic panels different from normal sound absorbing materials like foams and carpets?

Foams and carpets will absorb some of the sound intensity, but reflect most of it back into the room, so the sound wave must bounce around the room several times before it is completely eliminated. If however, that sound wave runs into another wave exactly opposite in phase to it, they will cancel completely. Quiet acoustic panels silently vibrate at a frequency opposite to the frequency they are designed to cancel. They do not "absorb" sound, they "resonate" to cancel sound waves in the air before they can bounce around the room

Is this technology new?

These panels are developed in house by Quiet Acoustics. Our background is Aerospace Engineering and PhD of Materials Engineering. We also love food and wine, which is why we are focused on helping hospitality! Because the technology is new, we offer a 100% money back guarantee that it will cut your vocal noise, and leave your vibrant ambiance.

Is it expensive?

Is it expensive to lose a potential repeat loyal customer? For a cafe, a repeat loyal customer has been shown to be worth at least $17,000 in their lifetime, and $25,000 for a restaurant. Loyal customers value service, ambience, and food, in that order. Per square meter, Quiet Acoustic panels are more expensive than absorption or diffusion materials, but as their effectiveness is far greater, you need much less installed. Overall it is more cost effective than older acoustic techniques, and can be made with an almost infinite range of colours and finishes, allowing it to improve, rather than detract from your establishments style. As an example, we can do small cafes for around $2,000. Finance is available for all jobs.

How quickly can it be installed?

We can generally complete your works within 4 weeks of commencing your order.

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