TL;DR: It depends on the frequency you need to control. Mid and high frequencies (dialogue clarity, harshness) are absorbed well by panels around 25–50 mm deep. Low-frequency “boom” traditionally needs far more — often 100–300 mm of bass trapping. The exception is engineered, corner-loaded systems: C-ATS controls reflection, reverberation and resonance in a system just 50 mm deep, independently measured by BSRIA to BS EN ISO 354.
Thickness is really about frequency
A panel absorbs sound most effectively at wavelengths comparable to its depth. High frequencies have short wavelengths, so a thin panel handles them well. Low frequencies have long wavelengths, so porous absorbers must be deep — or moved into corners and tuned — to do anything useful down low.
| Frequency band | What it affects | Typical depth (porous absorber) |
|---|---|---|
| High (2–4 kHz) | Harshness, sibilance | ~25 mm |
| Mid (500 Hz–2 kHz) | Dialogue clarity, imaging | ~50 mm |
| Low-mid (125–500 Hz) | Muddiness, congestion | 100 mm+ |
| Bass (below 125 Hz) | Boom, uneven seat-to-seat bass | 200–300 mm (traps) |
Why this usually costs you space
Because bass control traditionally means depth, conventional treatment ends up taking 100–200 mm off every wall once traps are added. Around a whole room that is a meaningful band of lost floor area — and in a high-value property that space is expensive. In tight retrofits, deep treatment often simply won't fit.
How C-ATS controls bass in 50 mm
C-ATS separates the three jobs and engineers each panel for its task rather than relying on raw depth:
- Reverberation Control Panel — a broadband absorber whose measured absorption coefficient rises toward 1.0 across the mid and high frequencies (BSRIA, BS EN ISO 354).
- Resonance Control Panel — corner-loaded for low frequencies. Placing low-frequency control where modal energy concentrates (the corners, including the ceiling corners) is far more space-efficient than lining walls with deep traps.
- Reflection Control Panel — tuned as a clean reflector to protect imaging at the first reflection points.
The result is measured control of all three problems at just 50 mm — without surrendering the room. (More on the wider method: the complete home-cinema guide and The System.) To get a suggested 50 mm package for your room, try the free Room Selector.
FAQ
Are thicker acoustic panels always better?
No. Thicker porous panels absorb lower frequencies, but past the mid-range, more depth mostly costs you floor space. The smarter approach is to match each frequency problem with the right tool — corner-loading bass rather than over-deepening wall panels.
Can a 50 mm system really control bass?
Broadband porous panels can't do much at 50 mm in the deep bass — which is exactly why C-ATS uses a separate, corner-loaded Resonance panel measured for low-frequency performance, instead of relying on panel depth.
Is the performance independently tested?
Yes — C-ATS panels were tested by BSRIA to BS EN ISO 354 (Report 100241/1).
Where do the panels go?
Behind a finished, acoustically transparent surface, so they're invisible in the room.