Is this a sound absorbing element in my new house?!

[bpplaysguitar]

Hey all,

 

I'm buying a new house, and it's a very open house where I could imagine sound travel would be a real concern. I'm wondering if this big wood piece against the back half wall with about 8 inches of open space behind it does anything for acoustics, or if it's just some sort of art or design element. Strange but kind of cool thing to find in a house. It will stay either way, I'm just curious if there's any function to it.

 

[hanksjim1]

no idea, but coool house...

[bpplaysguitar]

53 minutes ago, hanksjim1 said:

no idea, but coool house...

Thank you! I have some paint/wood refinishing/kitchen renovation ideas, but I loved the potential of it.

[Khornukopia]

2 hours ago, bpplaysguitar said:

I'm wondering if this big wood piece against the back half wall with about 8 inches of open space behind it does anything for acoustics, or if it's just some sort of art or design element

Mostly a visual design element, but probably causes some diffusion by being there. No reason to remove the panel if you like it.

[Islander]

Could that be where the dartboard goes?  

 

Also, very interesting floor plan.  With a brand new house, would the builder know the function, if any, of the wooden panel?

[flatgrass]

Is that where some optional feature may have gone?  Chimney/flue?

[geoff.]

If you used a real estate agent, that would be one of the questions they get paid to answer, lol.

 

[Khornukopia]

On 8/12/2022 at 4:26 AM, flatgrass said:

Is that where some optional feature may have gone?  Chimney/flue?

 

Good thought. Maybe wires or pipes also.

[artto]

I would pack the back of it with Roxul 80 or something similar. Roxul Safe n' Sound is more widely available but not as dense (not as effective for low frequency absorption, but probably adequate to provide some improvement).

 

It will provide some low frequency damping, while the hard frontal surface still retains reflective properties at higher frequencies.

[Matt6VZ]

This mystery rectangle in the new house is throwing me for a loop.  It  could  be a sound dampener, but it  also  might  be something completely different, like a  forgotten time capsule from the disco era!  Discovered treasures are always fun, but soundproofing is pretty important too.

Looking at the pic,  it  doesn't have the usual shape of  acoustic panels I've seen (think  those  angled wedges they use in recording studios).  Maybe it's a custom job the previous owner rigged up?  Who knows!

If soundproofing is your main concern, there are definitely more conventional solutions out there.  Check out websites like https://mdfskirtingworld.co.uk/ for some ideas.  They've got a whole bunch of sound insulation options  that might be a better fit (and a  whole lot less mysterious!)

Edited April 15 by Matt6VZ

[reid666]

the display looks very strange and wicked cool at the same time 

[JohnJ]

With that empty space behind it, and it's through two levels I'll second @Khornukopia above.

Done by either by the builder or another owner to obscure wiring.

We've been in the days of Home Theaters being recognized as a "thing" for a couple decades now. That place might have other nifty features built in also!

Nice!

[MassiveG]

Hey! I’ve had a similar setup in one of my old places. The big wood piece might actually help with sound, especially if it’s got some depth behind it like you mentioned. In my experience, things like that can make a surprising difference in how sound travels and echoes. 

[Schu]

if that surface has Micro perforations or slats, then yes... it is probably some form of sound absorption.

 

[Ceptorman]

It looks like standard wood paneling, if so, it's probably too reflective to be a sound absorbing feature. It's there for looks, and it does look cool.