RPG Flutterfree

Problem
Repetitive reflections from hard parallel surfaces produce flutter echoes that are perceived as timbre coloration and degrade sound quality and speech intelligibility. Absorptive surfaces are often used to control this annoying problem, with the unfortunate side effect of making the room too 'dead'.

Solution
FlutterFree® is the first acoustical hardwood moulding that controls flutter echo by diffusion, maintaining the natural ambiance of the room. When adjacent panels are spaced and mounted with an air cavity, low frequency absorption can also be achieved.

Absorptive fabric wrapped panels are the traditional treatment for flutter echoes which are caused by repetitive reflections between hard parallel walls. While absorption reduces flutter echoes, it also produces an acoustically 'dead' space. The resulting lack of ambiance makes the room seem psychoacoustically smaller and reduces the support of acoustic speech levels which makes conversation difficult.  

FlutterFree® is a handsome, furniture grade, acoustical hardwood moulding that provides flutter echo control as well as bass absorption. Its application converts small rooms with flat parallel surfaces into functional spaces with good speech intelligibility, sound quality, and a natural, comfortable ambiance. It expands the designer's flutter control finish treatment options beyond fabric upholstered surfaces.



Non-slotted FlutterFree®
Offers mid-high frequency diffusion, with the possibility of low frequency absorption using a Helmholtz mount

Slotted FlutterFree®
Offers mid-high frequency diffusion with accompanying absorption below the diffusion cut off. Additional low frequency absorption may be added using a Helmholtz mount

Features and Benefits

• Furniture grade, hardwood, sound diffusing acoustical molding
• Low frequency absorption mounting option
• FlutterFree® works on the 1D QRD® reflection phase grating principle
• Modular extruded diffusive strips
• Handsome furniture grade hardwood finish offers specifiers a new approach to flutter echo control that does not rely on the use of fabric upholstered fiberglass panels
• Offers an almost unlimited variety of lacquered, stained, or painted finishes and hardwood options
• Diffusive flutter control minimizes flutter echoes without making the space acoustically ®dead”
• Diffusive flutter control provides an ambient environment to support speech in conference rooms for less fatigue, greater coverage, and high speech intelligibility
• Mounting FlutterFree® over an air cavity provides low frequency absorption to minimize boominess and lack of definition in small rooms