Acoustic lighting: this is how it works

The designs are plenty, but so are the material options. The question is, how do these two elements impact acoustic performance? We’ll zoom in on that now, so you can better choose the right acoustic lighting solutions for your space. Different acoustic issues or challenges require different solutions. Generally, three essentials define the performance of acoustic lighting: density, size, and shape.

Density

Density refers to the mass and the volume of acoustic materials. To absorb low tones, originating from, for example, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, density is critical. In this case, foam-upholstered products like BuzziHat and BuzziDome are great solutions.

To reduce high tones, such as ringtones, clicking, and typing sounds, less material is needed. Lights made of felt, for instance, BuzziShade, suffice in this case. Apart from these acoustic lighting solutions, we also provide products that work on the whole audible spectrum, from low to mid and high tones like BuzziJet.

Rule of thumb: low tones require more acoustic material to be absorbed than high tones.

Performance upholstery: As shown in the graph, foam-upholstered products mostly work on the whole audible spectrum, from low to mid and high tones. The bigger and denser the products are, the better they will absorb sound waves, resulting in a higher absorption coefficient.

Performance felt: The graph shows the acoustic performance of a selection of felt products. Note, in particular, how they all perform better in combating mid and high-frequency noise compared to low-frequency sounds.

Size

Acoustically, size is critical, especially in terms of the air gaps or cavities that the products have as these impact the ability to trap sound waves.

BuzziJet and BuzziProp, both recognizable for their cylindrical design, traps sound waves within the radius of their circular body. Because BuzziProp is narrower and smaller than BuzziJet, its cavity is more concentrated and will therefore better soak up sound waves before they escape the cylinder.

Rule of thumb: length, width, and diameter determine how well the acoustic lighting picks up sound.

Shape

Just like size affects acoustic performance, so does shape. The conic shape of BuzziShade and BuzziCone is excellent for capturing sound waves within their core. Likewise, round shapes help diffuse sound energy better, distributing excess sound waves more evenly into the space.

However, not all acoustic lighting solutions are designed with a circular body. BuzziZepp Light is different with its panel-shaped silhouette. The soft edges diffuse sounds too, but BuzziZepp Light is mainly a powerhouse for immediate absorption. Suspended above a table, the concave shape picks up sound reflections from the hard surface of the tabletop as they travel upwards.