The acoustic treatment of a space takes many factors into consideration and relies on targeted methods to handle each situation. One of the most basic sound treatment methods applied is diffusion.
Diffusion occurs when a patterned material scatters bouncing sound waves as they come into contact with the treatment, rather than allowing a direct reflection. This is vital for clear sound because spaces that lack acoustical insulation are muddied by delayed sound reflections reaching the listener. Because the sound waves bouncing around are the same sound already heard, it is interpreted as distortion and noise, detracting from the sound experience. If you sit in the center of a room with speakers in front of you, sound isn’t being sent to you in a single, direct sound wave. Instead, sound radiates out three dimensionally; up and down, side to side, and even rearward from the speaker. You want to hear the original sound, but you don’t want to hear the other waves bouncing around the room, reaching you on a delay. Insulation for noise can help prevent this echoing distortion.
Materials that function as diffusors are often angular, like patterned acoustical foam or wooden structures that break up the sound’s path and scatter it in every direction, reducing standing waves and echoes that decrease sound enjoyment. Foam and fiberglass diffusors also absorb some of the offending waves, eliminating a portion of noise. Even economically-priced acoustical treatment products like 1 inch foam in an eggcrate pattern can deliver performance when dealing with diffusion. No matter what diffusion products are used to treat a room, always make sure they are fire resistant foam and rated properly for your use.