Sonance Invisible Speakers

Welcome back to the UrbanRanch v2.0 Episode 34.0 - let’s talk acoustics. You’ve begun to appreciate the openness of the first floor of the home at this point - definitely our goal with the project was to create as large of an open floor concept as possible hence why the 77 steel beams were required to support the floors above. For those of you who have ever been in a large open space with several other people - you’ve probably noticed that open spaces can become quite loud due to reverberations and echoing of noise within a space if there aren’t surfaces and materials to absorb the sound. We were cognizant that it is likely that the UrbanRanch will host and entertain regularly and with that can come too much noise if we don’t try to address it. So we decided to make the ceiling between two of the walnut wrapped beams not only look nice but also become a functional element to the home. We did this by installing an acoustical ceiling in the form of walnut panels from SoundPly, a family-owned and operated company based out of St Paul, Minnesota.
Specifically we choose the The LR Series of acoustical ceiling panels that are engineered to provide maximum acoustic effectiveness throughout the full range of sound pressure levels. These micro-perforated panels provide near anechoic-grade sound absorption.
The Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is the most common measurement for sound absorbing materials. It evaluates the capability of a material to absorb sound within the same space that sound originated in.
Unlike traditional acoustic panels used in ceiling and wall systems, the LR Series does not require an enclosed plenum/cavity space behind it to absorb sound. The SoundPly panels are 1” thick and finished with a walnut veneer. While there are a few acoustic panel manufacturers to choose from, we went with SoundPly for the level of acoustical reduction and their thickness, SoundPly products’ ability to eliminate both reflected and transmitted sound is unprecedented. They have the rare combination of both unusually high NRC (sound absorption) and CAC (ceiling sound blocking).
You can see here that the B7 crew meticulously installed the panels in a pattern Crystal and I choose and we couldn’t be more happy with the end result - it is just one more detail on the UrbanRanch project that people will likely never appreciate other than for the appearance of the wood on the ceiling but what they won’t be hearing is the result of this fantastic product that checks the box for being Uniquely Modern but with a Traditional Sensibility - thanks for watching another episode on the UrbanRanch - more to come!