The Output Eco Acoustic Panels modular range — Absorbers, Bass Traps, and Diffusers — was built to create an optimal studio experience in standard rooms and home environments. In alignment with Output’s ethos, the panels were intentionally designed with both top notch sound quality and aesthetics in mind. By making the mounting system part of the sonic design and utilizing air gaps, De-Fi reduced the amount of material required to get equivalent or better performance than much larger and chunkier solutions.
The choice of materials was another primary focus in the Eco Acoustic Panels. The full system was crafted with sustainability in mind, leveraging post-consumer recycled materials in each element. The hardwood walnut used for the connector plates are salvaged from urban forests in the United States, using wood that would normally be discarded. The Eco Panels are made primarily of post consumer recycled plastic.
The patented system is designed to create an air gap between the Eco Panels and surface behind, that in conjunction with the panel perforations, allow utilization of both sides, by absorbing both frontal energy and reflections. The mounting solution is designed for single and double stacking Eco Panels. This allows for customization of not only the amount of absorption desired, but gives the opportunity for unique visual color combinations.
A single stack Eco Panel system has an average NRC rating of 0.8, which is equivalent to most 2" thick flush mounted wall solutions. Stacked Eco Panels systems have an average NRC rating of 0.9, which is equivalent to most 3” thick flush mounted wall solutions.
The air gap and perforated PET felt panels used in both the Absorbers and Bass Traps remove unwanted reflections and low frequency build up at comparable RT60 values to much thicker, wall-mounted materials. The Diffusers, made from high quality hardwood, are tuned to scatter mid-range frequencies for ideal sonic conditions.
Absorber panels are available in single- and double-wide columns, and in three colors (Granite, Charcoal, and Sunset). The patented Bass Trap uses Eco Panels for higher frequencies on the front surface, and handles frequencies behind down to 125Hz, featuring an acoustic membrane constructed from post-consumer recycled material, available in the same three colors. The quadratic diffusers are tuned to reflect mid-range frequencies between 847 and 3400Hz, and can be placed in horizontal or vertical orientation, available in Kodiak, Natural walnut and Driftwood Grey.
"With the addition of Acoustic Panels, we’re nearly at the point that Output can build out your entire studio," says Output CEO Gregg Lehrman. "It was a no-brainer to pair with the industry veterans at De-Fi to create the best looking solution for optimizing your studio sound."
According to J.C Sutherland, who leads Hardware Development at Output and is the founder and CEO of De-Fi, low environmental impact was a driving force behind the Eco Acoustic Panels. "It was important to all of us to create a product with the lowest possible environmental impact," says Sutherland. "You should feel good about the materials you’re surrounded by in your studio."
"We designed the De-Fi Bass Trap as an open system to be more sympathetic to a wider array of energy, without a specific frequency. It’s more flexible dealing with the chamber it’s in. The acoustic mass in the Bass Trap is limply suspended, mostly decoupled from the walls, and openly suspended for that reason. It’s very effective, so much so that we patented the design," Sutherland adds.
The Eco Acoustic Panels are available for purchase now in the US and Europe.
www.output.com
