Why use an acoustic curtain?

Acoustic, sound-absorbing, soundproofing, noise-reducing, and noise-blocking curtain

The purpose of this article is to understand the benefits of an acoustic, sound-absorbing, and soundproof curtain.

You will learn more about its anti-noise and noise-canceling effects.

Why use an acoustic curtain?

Decorative items and furniture such as sofas, rugs, carpets, and curtains can provide acoustic comfort. The advantage of an acoustic curtain is that it is the only piece of furniture that can be used in front of a window or bay window. Windows, even though they provide a lot of light, are inert materials that contribute significantly to the resonance of a room. In some cases, such as in schools, open spaces, or offices, windows represent a significant portion of the "wall" surface area and need to be treated. Curtains can help regulate the propagation of sound in a room. 

How can you tell if a soundproof curtain is effective?

Acoustic and soundproof curtains: how effective are they? In the acoustic curtain market, soundproofing and acoustic insulation are often confused. Curtains are sometimes sold as having a dual function. Soundproofing consists of preventing outside sound from "entering" a room. Acoustic treatment consists of reducing echoes and reverberation in a room.

Acoustic curtains are often sold for their sound insulation benefits, with noise reductions of between 5 and 18db.

A gain of 5dB is relatively low, whereas 18dB provides a real solution and the difference will be clearly audible. For example, a non-acoustic interior door already provides between 18 and 27dB of reduction. It is important to understand that this decibel gain varies depending on the frequency. Depending on your situation, it may be more beneficial to choose a curtain with good performance in the mid/high frequencies. For others, it may be preferable to have good performance in the mid/low frequencies. Wanting a curtain with a gain of 17 dB therefore does not mean much. It is always advisable to characterize the noises that bother you in order to choose the best solution. To better understand this, you can look at the curve shown below.

In addition to reducing noise from outside to inside (sound insulation), curtains provide acoustic absorption. This is often because they are designed with multiple layers of fabric. These materials, combined with an air plenum, provide acoustic damping.

These two aspects are therefore a significant advantage for the acoustics of a room. However, it should be noted that curtains, even the best ones, are often offered as supplementary solutionsor finishing touches in an overall project. This is mainly due to the fact thata curtain will only work if it is closedin front of the window.

However, in cases where there are many windows or bay windows, the goal is to gain clarity and open up to the outside... which is the opposite function of curtains. 

Effectiveness: determining the best sound barrier 

The acoustic curtain reduces noise thanks to two main operating principles. 

1. The first by porosity : the curtain is made of thick, dense fabrics, which absorb sound thanks to their thickness and the air plenum.

2. The second by the mass-spring effect mass/spring : the curtain is composed of successive layers of different types that combine to optimize absorption. An absorption layer, a layer that reflects energy...

The following points should be noted: 

• The thicker the curtain, the better it works.

• The further the curtain is from the support, the better it works.

• The more surface area the curtain covers, the better it works.

There are several types of acoustic curtains:

• The conventional curtain

• The Japanese-style curtain

Curtains that are acoustically effective are often:

• Techniques consisting of several layers.

• Blackout

• Thick

• Heavy

• Away from the wall

• Natural felt

• Velvet

Thick noise-reducing and soundproof curtain

As mentioned above, the thickness of the curtain will affect its absorption quality. It is therefore preferable touse a thick curtain and pay attention to the material used. The Test reports can also be an additional indication to ensure quality. However, they must be scrutinized with particular attention. We will come back to this later.

Soundproof and noise-reducing curtains: how many decibels can you expect to save (12 dB, 20 dB, 21 dB, or 30 dB)?

A relatively basic curtain will allow for a reduction of around 5 to 7db. This corresponds to the standard reduction achieved by an acoustic curtain. These curtains are either relatively thick or composed of a thin layer of "metallized" fabric, similar to garage insulation. A higher quality curtain will have a performance rating of between 12 and 18db. These curtains will have several layers. Some will be very heavy and thick because they are made of high-quality fabrics combined with felt or fleece. Others, which are the subject of particular attention, can remain lightweight thanks to research into materials and technical expertise. They are made of heavy fabrics, coatings, metallized sheets, and fleece. 5- and 7-layer soundproof curtains: acoustic and noise reduction performance Technical, acoustic, and noise-reducing curtains can thus incorporate 5 or even 7 layers !

The more layers the curtain has, the more effective it will be (depending on the materials used, of course). However, it will be heavier and therefore less easy to handle.

In addition, due to its properties, a curtain that reduces noise will also tend to significantly reduce reverberation in the room. However, in this second case, the curtain must be kept closed at all times!

Uses of a soundproof and acoustic curtain

Acoustics are important in many situations. In this sense, curtains can be useful for a home or a professional setting. Curtains for soundproofing As explained above, curtains provide additional soundproofing. This means they can help you enjoy a more peaceful night's sleep if you live near a road. However, they won't stop you from hearing the party going on at your neighbor's house.

Home theater acoustic curtain

Acoustics are essential for a home theater. We explain this in our tutorial onacoustics of a movie theater. If your room is particularly large and open, they will be a real plus for immersion in your movies. Both for acoustics and for reducing light in the room.

Studio acoustic curtain

An acoustic curtain is also very useful for a studio:

• Whether it's an apartment

• Or whether it's a music studio

Indeed, acoustics offer numerous benefits for both of these environments.  

Velvet stage curtain

Some concert halls and theaters may use velvet curtains to delineate the stage. Being relatively thick, they dampen sound very effectively, as well as being of high quality.

Acoustic rubber curtain

As we will see later, the number of layers will affect the performance of the curtain. A basic acoustic curtain made of rubber will therefore be of little use.

Acoustic curtain for room separation

A curtain can be useful for soundproofing an appliance in an open room, for "separating" two living areas, or simply for keeping a window open and preventing noise from spreading. However, the curtain will not provide perfect insulation, even at 18db.

Acoustic, soundproof, and noise-reducing curtain for front doors

As explained above, placing a curtain at your front door can also make sense.

Industrial noise barrier curtain

A curtain can be used in an industrial setting. This is especially necessary when you have rooms with large glass surfaces.

Home soundproofing curtain

A curtain can improve the acoustics in your home. Installing one can therefore be beneficial if you have a room made of reverberating materials, a large volume, or musical constraints (hi-fi room, studio, etc.).

Acoustic curtain for bedroom

As mentioned earlier, the acoustic curtain will be perfect for improving your nights.

Professional acoustic curtain

An acoustic curtain can also be beneficial in a professional setting. In some cases, its cost may even be covered by public subsidies. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

The price of noise-reducing fabric per meter

As with many acoustic products, thinking in terms of price per square meter is of little interest. It is preferable to include other indicators, in particular acoustic performance per square meter , to compare products. 

Added to this is the fact that, like an acoustic panel, an acoustic curtain is more technical than it appears. Having one made by an upholsterer would cost you significantly more than buying a ready-made one.

Cheap soundproof and noise-reducing curtains: how much should you pay?

The price will depend on the result you want. As is often the case, curtains are available at all price points. The Cheaper ones will be available between €90 and €129. However, they are not highly recommended by professionals as they are not very effective. A high-performance acoustic curtain can cost between $250 and $600 per roll. At Cotton Silence, we offer a model that combines all the highest acoustic performance features.

Alternatives to Galon, Moondream, Ikea, Leroy Merlin, Castorama, and Amazon soundproof curtains As mentioned above, the number of layers and the composition of a curtain will affect its performance. The problem is that most of these sites offer basic curtains. If you look at most customer reviews, you will see thateffectiveness of these products is very mixed. This is reflected in the price: it is indeed low. As in many markets, it is therefore advisable to invest a certain amount to get a decent result.

Similarly, if you purchase this type of product as part of an overall project, whether for sound insulation or acoustic treatment, implementation is paramount. It requires expert advice, which you will not find on these websites.

Limitations of the acoustic curtain

Curtain and acoustic performance

We addressed this issue at the beginning of this article. As mentioned, curtains offer only limited sound insulation benefits.

The problem with an open curtain

The problem with acoustic curtains is that they are often left open. However, it will inevitably be more effective when closed because it will cover a larger surface area. This is especially true since, in most cases, it covers highly reverberant materials (bay windows). These will have a negative impact on your acoustics. 

Test reports

It is important to be wary of acoustic curtain PVs. It is also necessary to pay attention to the methods used to calculate used to calculate the noise reduction provided by these curtains. In fact, many products are advertised with an "NRC" coefficient. It is presented in the same way as the "Aw" coefficient. However, technically, it is not the same thing.

The ideal solution is therefore to have a complete PV test in alpha sabine, expressed frequency by frequency. Thus, it is preferable to calculate the gain index in terms of TR (reverberation time) reduction with the curtains open. In practice, they are more often open than closed, so the treatment surface is not the same.

In addition, as mentioned above, a curtain must be closed to be fully effective.

Please also note that thin, transparent curtains do not work. You therefore lose the benefit of your glass surfaces.

Conclusion: acoustic, noise-reducing, and soundproof curtains—what should we make of them?

Sound curtains are therefore useful for your acoustics. To work, they must be "open," i.e., unfolded. They can be used in many circumstances. Their performance will depend on their thickness and how they are installed. Although test reports are a useful indicator for forming an opinion, it is essential to look at the test method to see whether the performance has been amplified by the process.