The acoustic diffusion consists of the uniform dispersion in various directions of the noise produced in a room. Therefore, the main objective of the acoustic diffusers is to eliminate the reflection that occurs in a room without reducing the time of reverberation, dispersing acoustic waves both temporally and spatially. In other words, the sound will try to ensure that the sound reaches the spectators equally from anywhere, creating a surround sound that will increase the acoustic quality of the venue. The placement of diffusers will eliminate any problems with echo, sound focusing and displacement of the sound source. Sound diffusion is achieved through the design of acoustic panels, through a series of irregularities and reliefs on their surface. In general, the most used material for the manufacture of this type of panel is wood due to its spectacular acoustic performance. However, the frequency band on which the acoustic diffuser will act is determined by the dimensions of the diffuser.

Types of acoustic diffusers

There is a wide variety of types of acoustic diffusers, with certain characteristics that allow quality acoustic conditioning to be achieved in the room in which they are located. The most representative types are the following:

• Polycylindrical acoustic diffuser. These are panels with smooth convex surfaces that are arranged sequentially. Its radius of curvature is less than 5m.
• Scheroeder or RPG diffuser. Its objective is to achieve a certain frequency margin. Within them, we can find different RPG diffusers:
• MLS acoustic diffuser. Its composition is a smooth reflective surface to which a series of grooves of the same depth are incorporated. Depending on the frequency to be absorbed, they are designed with a specific size and distribution of perforations, although they are mainly used to absorb noise at low frequencies.
• One-dimensional QRD acoustic diffuser. Panels with a series of lateral rectangular slots, of equal width but different depth, separated by thin and rigid dividers. At ideatec, we have methacrylate acoustic diffusers Ideawave D-Wave and wooden QRD diffusers Ideawave D-Wood.
• Bidimensional QRD acoustic diffusers. They are oriented to obtain a diffusion of sound in all directions of the appropriate room. Its design is based on the arrangement of wells arranged in parallel of variable depth and usually square in shape. At ideatec we offer you Ideawave Incube, suitable for quality acoustic diffusion in walls and ceilings.
• PRD diffuser. These are primitive root diffusers that resemble QRD diffusers but with the difference that the depth of each slot is obtained from a different sequence. At ideatec we have Ideawave Cube, ideal for cladding walls and creating false ceilings.< /li>

Uses and locations of acoustic diffusers

Acoustic diffusers have many uses thanks to their properties. In construction, they are widely used for the acoustic conditioning of a room and curb reverberation in offices. It is also possible to find acoustic diffusers to improve acoustics, reduce the annoying noise of machines and stop the transmission of vibrations in factories. But if there are places where acoustic diffusion must be taken into account, they are concert halls, auditoriums and theaters. In them, the correct distribution of the sound is very important to ensure that the spectators do not miss a single detail of what happens on stage, no matter how much the sound emitter moves. The correct location of the acoustic diffusers depends on the characteristics of the room and the use to which it will be put. Thus, in a recording studio room the diffusers have to cover the ceiling and the side walls, as well as the floor. In a radio announcement room it is advisable to cover no less than 80% of the ceiling and more than 50% of the side walls if we want to logMake sure the microphone picks up sounds naturally and distributed throughout the environment. In movie theaters, auditoriums and the like, it is recommended to cover no less than 70% of the ceiling to achieve a pleasant feeling of envelopment for the audience. And if it is a concert or rehearsal room where the sound of acoustic instruments predominates, the acoustic diffusers must cover a minimum of 60% of the ceiling of the room and a minimum of 70% of the side walls.