What Is a Bass Trap and Why Is It Needed?

Many people who try to design their optimal acoustic space are often faced with the unique challenge of treating bass sounds. Have you ever noticed that when a meeting is in progress in the office’s conference room, you only hear the low drum of voices through the closed door? Or when your neighbours are playing excessively loud music, the most prominent sound that you hear is the bass coming through the walls?

This is because bass sounds or low-frequency sounds are harder to manage, handle, or treat than the rest of the sound wave spectrum. From a wide range of acoustic treatment materials and solutions, the most effective in absorbing lower-frequency sound waves is bass traps.

What makes bass traps more effective in absorbing lower frequencies is that they are thicker as well as designed to neatly fit into the corners of a room, and there is therefore more space for the waves to get absorbed and trapped into the fibres.

What Are Base Traps Used For?

In most cases, using a variety of sound treatment elements will result in optimal sound. This means that using absorption foam, coupled with sound diffusers, works better than just using absorption foam by itself. Bass traps are another element that you can add to the mix which will optimize the sound in your room and make the acoustics better overall. We have written another piece on how Bass traps can be used in recording studios. 

But having bass traps can be almost entirely pointless if you don’t install them in the correct place. The most ideal positioning for bass traps is in the corners of the room. When we say ‘corners,’ we mean at the points where two walls and the ceiling or floor meet. Installing your bass traps here will add to the optimal sound you are hoping to get.

Types of Bass Traps

In acoustic treatment, there are a variety of materials that can be used to enhance sound. Bass traps aren’t excluded and there are different materials that make up bass traps, each with its own benefit. The first type of material is porous absorbers which are made up of materials like open-cell foam, mineral wool, or fibreglass.

Porous absorbers are best used in an environment where you are hoping to absorb a greater frequency range. Essentially, they work by absorbing the vibration energy of a soundwave and turning it into heat energy that dissipates into the bass trap.

Porous absorbers are great for your home studio, home office, or the room that you have dedicated to recording podcasts, YouTube videos, and Tik-Toks. These are also the most commonly used bass traps as they are more cost effective. 

Resonant absorbers are great for targeted absorption which is specific to the frequencies that are on the lower end of the spectrum. While some resonant absorbers neutralize bass frequencies, other types absorb the bass frequencies

These resonant absorbers are usually high-end products that are used for professional studios, clubs, and other places where getting the optimal acoustics is of utmost importance. 

If you are looking for all-around acoustic treatment, contact us at Hush Echo where we can provide you with optimal acoustic treatment solutions with nationwide delivery.