Soundproof Windows to Reduce Room Echo

The idea of a room with a booming echo may be fun when we are kids, but the novelty fades as we get older, and echo can present problems in otherwise beautiful rooms. The sound waves in the room return to the source, and those rogue waves reverberate to make the room louder and conversations harder to hear. 

It’s easy for people to get overwhelmed with figuring out which acoustic products will help them combat their echo issues. Some work, like acoustical panels, and some don’t, like soundproof windows. The reason some efforts succeed where others fail is due to the physics of echo production.

What produces an echo?

While most of us are familiar with what echo is and what types of spaces produce them, many of us don’t know what exactly is causing it. If you’ve noticed that echoes tend to emanate from large, open areas without obstructions, you’ve already got a visual representation that will be helpful in your understanding of echo.

Echo is produced when sound waves strike hard, reflective surfaces and are bounced back toward the source. When you yell into a canyon or empty event hall, there aren’t enough soft surfaces to absorb the waves, so the waves are able to return with little interruption. The larger the distance between the speaker and the reflective surface, the more pronounced the echo. The result is that we hear the sound repeated back at us in a way that tends to fill the space with distraction. 

Why do some rooms have a bigger echo than others? 

Some rooms produce a tremendous amount of echo, while others have nearly none at all. Small, cozy spaces lack the large, open space needed to create an echo, so it isn’t usually an issue. Also, the more things we fill spaces with, the more obstructions we have to reduce echo. This is easy to accomplish in small areas.

On the other hand, large rooms with high ceilings can echo a great deal. This is due to the distance sound waves travel and the fact that there is generally less to absorb the waves as they pass across the room. The larger the space and the harder the walls, the more echo you will experience.

How can we influence the reduction of echoes in the room? 

While echo in a canyon is fun to play with on afternoons in our local state parks, it’s far less desirable in indoor spaces. It can be distracting and can make the room unnecessarily loud. When tackling echo issues in any indoor area, our main course of action is to fill the space with a combination of soft, absorbent materials and surfaces that scatter sound waves. Adding these elements keeps reverberation down and keeps the sound as natural as possible. This is what is known as acoustically treating the room.

Why don’t soundproof windows and doors help with echo?

Sometimes the ideas of soundproofing and acoustically treating rooms are used interchangeably, but they shouldn’t be. The two things are very different. Soundproofing really refers to keeping sound from passing through a structure to the other side, while acoustically treating a room keeps the sounds inside comfortable and correct.

Soundproof windows and soundproof interior doors don’t help with echo because they are still hard, reflective surfaces. They may prevent much of the sounds from either side from passing through, but to address echo, we need to deal with the surface of the windows themselves. You want to add an acoustic treatment. We’ll dig into solutions a little later.

What materials absorb sound? 

Since absorbing sound waves is arguably the largest piece of the acoustical treatment puzzle, it’s good to know a little bit about what kind of materials will help in your endeavor.

As a basic rule of thumb, sound waves bounce off hard, smooth surfaces and get absorbed by soft, porous materials. Since materials like wood and metal are generally pretty hard, they will reflect far more sound waves than they absorb. 

The types of materials and furnishings that absorb sound include things like dense curtains, acoustical panels, and furniture upholstered with fabric. The more soft furnishings we incorporate into designs, the more sound waves are absorbed. This keeps the volume down and reduces echo, among other acoustic benefits.

Can we reduce the echo by decorating the space?

When decorating a space with a natural echo, there are areas that need the most attention when it comes to acoustics. You’ll want to break up the large, flat expanses like the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, and you’ll want to introduce sound-absorbing materials into the space between them.

The walls

Since the walls cause a great deal of echo in rooms, they are a natural place to start. You can utilize large bookshelves if they fit the space. The dense books will help absorb some of the sound, and when placed at varying depths, they can also help scatter the sounds. Those scattered sound waves don’t bounce directly back, which reduces echo.

If a bookshelf doesn’t fit the decor, try replacing traditional artwork with fabric-wrapped acoustical panels. As an echo absorber, acoustic panels are a great solution. Unlike glass-covered art prints, acoustical panels are backed with sound-absorbing materials that absorb sounds rather than reflecting them. They are available in all kinds of great modern designs and can even be printed with your own custom images. No matter what kind of events occur in the space, there are panels that fit the bill.

If you need a lot of coverage on a budget, Aco-U-Stick Panels may be what you’re looking for. These panels measure one square foot apiece and are available in multiple thicknesses, colors, and materials. Their small size means they can be mounted nearly anywhere you want for fantastic echo control. They are easily applied with fast-tabs, so not only can you install them yourself, but they can be relocated as needed. 

Soundproof windows and doors

We can’t talk about the walls without mentioning the windows and doors, as they can easily take half of the wall space in a room with a view. Since the vast majority of windows are naturally hard and smooth, they can contribute to your echo problems. We mentioned that soundproof windows won’t help with echo, so what do we do with them?

Since windows and doors naturally reflect sound waves, it’s a good idea to cover them with something that absorbs sound waves if you’re having trouble tackling your echo issues. Acoustical or soundproof curtains are a great solution. Placing a sound-absorbing barrier between the windows and the room prevents the sound waves inside from reflecting and reverberating.

Not only do acoustical curtains absorb the sound waves that cause your room to echo, but they reflect thermal energy from the sun, meaning your space remains relatively comfortable without the need for exorbitant energy bills.

The floor

Area rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting can be a terrific help in treating the floor. The floor is typically the largest flat surface in the room, so breaking up that hard expanse with softer materials can do a great deal of echo elimination. Another benefit of adding carpeting is that it reduces the impact sounds generated when people are walking around and shifting chairs. Hence, there are fewer sound waves in the air to distract from all the important things going on in the room.

The ceiling

High ceilings can increase echo and make dealing with it a little more difficult. The added space above our heads allows additional space for sound waves to travel unobstructed. If you want to break up that space, consider ceiling clouds or hanging acoustical panels. They’ll add visual interest to your ceiling while breaking up the area with sound-absorbing materials.

The space between

The best way to break up the sounds traveling across the room is to introduce obstructions. Try filling the room with large, fabric-covered couches and chairs. Not only do they provide your guests with great places to wind down, but they are great at breaking up the openness of the room and absorb sound waves to boot. Choosing materials like wood, metal, or leather can do a little to scatter sound waves but don’t do much as far as absorbing waves. Although you don’t need to avoid wood and metal entirely, the fabric upholstery is your friend when it comes to decorative sound absorption.

Eliminating echo in your own space

Now that you know more about how to reduce echo in a room and what materials are needed, you’re prepared to combat your own echo issues. Identify the large spaces that are causing your troubles, and choose a solution that works with your style and your budget. Once you’ve reduced the echo in the room and determined a baseline for the noise inside, you’ll be able to better gauge whether or not you need to spring for those soundproof windows and doors after all.