Tagged with 'eco-C-tex'

In the acoustics industry, the terms "panel" and "tile" are often used interchangeably to describe the same basic concept: a sound-absorbing quadrilateral of varying sizes and thicknesses that is mounted or installed within a space to reduce echoes and improve sound clarity.

At Audimute, both our acoustic panels and acoustic tiles are made with eco-C-tex®, our signature "green" sound absorption material comprised of recycled cotton and cellulose fibers. But there are also some key areas where our "panels" and "tiles" for wall applications differ from each other. (NOTE: The following distinctions do not apply to our AcoustiColor® Direct Mount Ceiling Tiles; read more on those here).

1. The Sides of the Panel / Tile

It's a subtle distinction but an important one. Our acoustic panels, from Fabric to AcoustiColor® to AcoustiWood® to AcoustiStone®, are fabric-wrapped (or, in the case of AcoustiColor, coated) on the face of the panel and then around the edges. Our acoustic tiles, on the other hand, have exposed eco-C-tex on the sides; only the face of the tile has been treated with the cover material of your choosing.

Here's some examples: this is a stack of our AcoustiColor panels. You can see that both the face of the panel and the sides have been coated. 

Now here's an AcoustiColor tile. Notice that the face has been coated in Sherwin-Williams paint, but the sides are still uncoated eco-C-tex.

2. Thickness / NRC

The thickness of an acoustic panel or tile directly corresponds to its sound-absorbing effectiveness. We measure sound absorption in NRC, or noise reduction coefficient. NRC ratings range from 0 to 1. An NRC of 0 means the product absorbs no sound, while an NRC of 1 means that the product absorbs all sound. The higher the NRC, the better the product is at soaking up sound.

Audimute's Acoustic Panels have thicknesses of 1.5" and NRC ratings of .95, meaning each panel will absorb an average of 95% of echoes, reverberations, and mid to high frequencies that it comes into contact with. Our Acoustic Tiles, on the other hand, are 1" thick and, depending on the cover material, have NRC ratings in the 0.70 to 0.75 range.

3. What You Get Per Order

Our acoustic panels are purchased and shipped as individual units, whereas our tiles are packaged together in different configurations (ranging from four 24" by 24" tiles to 48 4" x 12" tiles) totaling 16 square feet of material. Check the product pages for more information.

Whether you opt for acoustic panels or tiles from Audimute, you'll be getting high-performance sound absorption made with eco-friendly material. It all comes down to your preferences and what you need to allow you to use your space the way it was intended.

Want more information? Reach out to our Acoustic Specialists for a free acoustic consultation by calling 1.866.505.MUTE or filling out a Room Analysis Form.

Over the past several decades, there's been a big global shift toward eco-friendly, sustainable, "green" practices. Some efforts are everyday in nature, such as opting for reusable shopping bags instead of those made of plastic; other efforts are more ambitious, such as ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions and the push for LEED certifications in building construction.

"Going Green": Do Consumers Care?

In a word: yes.

A 2022 report found that 65% of U.S. buyers consider a product's sustainability when making a purchase, while a 2023 study concluded that 77% of Gen Z members and 72% of Millennials were willing to pay more for sustainable products.

Eco-Friendly Acoustic Products

Driven by this consumer demand and their own interests in more sustainable practices, many businesses have adapted their manufacturing processes and product lines to be "greener"; the acoustics industry is no different.

Where foam and fiberglass acoustic panels (both made with non-renewable raw materials) once dominated the market, today's acoustic products use more sustainable elements like recycled PET, mycelium, and natural fibers for their sound absorption properties.

Audimute: Innovation in Sustainable Acoustics

Audimute is proud to be one of the industry leaders for green acoustics. The core of our sound management solutions is eco-C-tex®, a sound absorption material comprised of a blend of recycled cotton and cellulose fibers, the majority of which are post-consumer recycled newspaper. The eco-C-tex manufacturing process itself is also eco-friendly, expending only 1/10 of the energy required to produce fiberglass and 1/40 of the energy used to create foam.

We also dramatically reduce waste by repurposing discarded pieces of eco-C-tex from custom-cut shapes and signs for other acoustic installations.

On the soundproofing side of Audimute, our Peacemaker® soundproofing product is made from 90% post-consumer material, including recycled tire rubber. It's an eco-friendlier alternative to Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV), which uses petroleum-based plastics and industrial fillers.

Audimute is always looking for new ways to deliver quality sound-absorbing panels and sound-blocking products that are also environmentally responsible, sustainable, and eco-friendly. We're big believers in the steps that all of us — from individuals to companies to countries — can take to create a happier, healthier planet.

Wood has long been one of the go-to materials for design and home decor due to its durability, its stunning aesthetics, and its versatility. So it only makes sense that wood has also become a popular option in acoustic panels and other sound management solutions.

But the type of wood matters: 

• Softwoods like pine, cedar, fir, and spruce are excellent for sound absorption due to their lower density and more open cell structure.
• Hardwoods such as oak and maple, on the other hand, are more dense and therefore more likely to reflect sound. It's why rooms with hardwood floors are more susceptible to echoes and reverberations.

There are no shortage of acoustic wood panels on the market, with wooden slat panels (typically featuring wooden slats mounted on a sound-absorbing panel) particularly popular. Wooden slats themselves have both sound-absorbing (where the wood soaks up sound waves instead of reflecting them back) and sound-diffusing (where the sound waves are broken up and reflected back as smaller, weaker pieces of energy) properties.

Here at Audimute, we love the look of wood as much as anyone, but we wanted to take a more eco-friendly approach to "acoustic wood panels." So we launched our AcoustiWood® line of sound absorption products. AcoustiWood has all the aesthetics of real wood, but is instead made with high-quality graphics printed on acoustical fabric that's then wrapped around our 100% recycled sound absorption material, eco-C-tex®. It's the acoustic wood wall panel without the wood.

Here's why we love AcoustiWood:

1. It's Effective

Thanks to its eco-C-tex core, our AcoustiWood panels have NRC ratings of .95, meaning they absorb an average of 95% of echoes, reverberations, and mid to high frequencies.

2. It's Beautiful

There's just nothing like the look of wood. Elegant, warm, and timeless, it connects us to the natural world while also projecting an image of strength and stability. Audimute offers AcoustiWood in more than 75 different cover material styles, including Chestnut, Brown Walnut, Red Mahogany, Aged Teak, Cerused Oak, and Earthy Birch.

3. It's Durable

Our AcoustiWood acoustic wall panels are Class A Fire-Rated (ASTM E-84). It's the highest rating under the ASTM standard and means it has minimal flame spread and low smoke production.

4. It's Versatile

From home to office and Old World extravagance to New Age minimalism, AcoustiWood, like real wood, visually fits in with any and all environments and design styles.

5. It's Eco-Friendly

Each AcoustiWood product is made with our eco-C-tex sound absorption material. Eco-c-tex is made of a blend of recycled cotton and cellulose fibers, the majority of which are post-consumer recycled newspaper. On top of that, making eco-C-tex takes 1/10th the energy of making fiberglass and 1/40th of making foam (two other materials popular for sound absorption solutions).


You shouldn't have to compromise on aesthetics when you're looking for great acoustics! AcoustiWood, along with other Audimute options like AcoustiStone® and AcoustiColor®, is proof of that.