What is Acoustics?

Acoustics is a branch of physics that deals with the generation, propagation and reception of sound. Ultimately, it comes down to being able to hear what you want to hear and not hearing what you don’t want to hear.

How We Do Solve Acoustic Challenges?

 

Noise Suppression

Noise Suppression uses physical countermeasures placed on or as walls, floors, ceilings and furniture to absorb or block the propagation of sound waves causing problems, either in specific frequencies or ranges of frequencies, depending on the building structure and your acoustic needs and objectives.  These countermeasures can be applied in the design of the space (preferred) or remedially to correct problems caused by room or structure design.

 
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Electronic Sound Masking

The other way of dealing with unwanted noises and sound is by dealing with its reception, that is, how it is heard.  Electronic Sound Masking involves installing upward wiring speakers scientifically designed and placed for full impact and putting a specially formulated noise into the room. Most people say it sounds like a cross between an air condition blowing, wind or the ocean. Many people mistakenly think that an electronic sound masking system mysteriously makes unwanted sounds disappear like magic. In reality, sound masking is actually the complete opposite.

Rather than eliminating the sound, the approach used by iQ Acoustics addresses sound and noise reception where it actually occurs, in the brain of the person hearing it.  It allows the brain to ignore noise that falls in certain frequencies like human speech, phones, and office machines to refocus on the task at hand.

A Visual Example of Electronic Sound Masking

  • Life Without Sound Masking

  • Life With Sound Masking

 To better understand sound masking, imagine you’re looking at a playground through a window

  • If the glass is clear, you can see almost every detail, right down to the color of the slide and what the kids are wearing. Your brain stays focused on the playground rather than your work because there’s so much that catches the eye. It’s similar to when we overhear a conversation next to us—the brain wants to stop what it’s doing and sop up all the juicy details.

  • If the glass is frosted, you can only see only a blur of colors. To the brain, the picture is so diluted and dull that the project at hand continues to remain the most interesting thing to focus on. Likewise, when a conversation is distorted, there’s nothing that draws the mind to it.

When it comes to fixing bad acoustics, one size, one technology or one out-of-the-box approach does not fit all. But one phone call (or email) will get you the experts you need to solve your bad acoustics problems.

iQ Acoustics offers a wide range of products and services, and we install, maintain and service what we sell, nationwide. Our engineering and Project Management teams are in-house and ready to help you get rid of your bad acoustics now, once and for all.