Making Room for Better Sound
Each room has its own acoustic personality. Some are lively and full of echoes. Others make conversations difficult, recordings muddy, or private discussions less private than we'd like.
At Third Act Acoustics, we consult, design, build, and install acoustic treatments for all sorts of applications — from small intimate rooms to larger and perhaps less personal “spaces” — helping people make their surroundings more comfortable, functional, productive and enjoyable.
Any one of the following services may suit your needs — or all of them may. You decide which services you need.
Video Consultation
The best place to begin is with a conversation.
During a video consultation, we'll talk about how you use your room, what you're hearing, and what you'd like to improve. You can walk us through your space, show or describe the areas that concern you, and ask whatever questions come to mind.
We'll help identify potential acoustic issues, explain some of the options available, and suggest sensible next steps.
Sometimes a few straightforward changes can make a meaningful difference. Other situations call for a closer look.
There's no need to know the technical language of acoustics. That's our job. Yours is simply to tell us what isn't working.
Site Visit
There's no substitute for spending time in the room itself.
A site visit allows us to experience your space firsthand, examine its dimensions and construction, and better understand the activities taking place there.
We'll look at room geometry, wall and ceiling surfaces, furnishings, windows, doors, and other features that influence how sound behaves. Just as importantly, we'll listen to your concerns and consider how any proposed treatment might fit comfortably into the room. A site visit can help us distinguish between problems that acoustic treatment can address and those requiring other approaches. The goal is to understand the space before recommending what, if anything, should change.
Acoustic Measurement and Analysis
Our ears tell us a great deal about a room, but careful measurement can reveal things we might otherwise miss.
Using a calibrated measurement microphone and specialized acoustic analysis software, we can examine how your room responds to sound across a range of frequencies. This helps us identify troublesome resonances, uneven bass response, excessive reverberation, and other acoustic characteristics that may interfere with listening, recording, or conversation. We use Room EQ Wizard (REW), a professional-quality acoustic measurement platform, to collect and interpret this information. The results help us make informed recommendations, prioritizing treatments likely to produce meaningful improvements rather than relying on guesswork or installing panels simply because there's space for them.
Custom Design, Layout and Feature Selection
Effective acoustic treatment isn't simply a matter of covering walls with panels. It's about placing the right materials in the right locations, in ways that support what you actually do in the room.
Drawing on our conversations, observations, and measurements where appropriate, we'll develop a treatment plan tailored to your space. This may include wall-mounted absorbers, ceiling clouds, corner bass traps, or other practical solutions. We'll also consider appearance, fabric colours, placement, available space, and budget. Acoustic treatment should complement the room rather than overwhelm it. Our aim is a balanced design that improves acoustic performance while preserving the character, comfort, and usefulness of your space.
Panel Fabrication
Every Third Act Acoustics panel is built by hand in our own workshop, using carefully selected materials and proven construction methods.
Our broadband absorbers typically combine sturdy wooden frames, mineral wool insulation, and acoustically transparent fabric coverings. Each panel is assembled with attention to fit, finish, durability, and acoustic performance. We can accommodate different dimensions, fabric choices, and mounting requirements to suit the room and the design we've developed together. Building our own treatments gives us control over quality and flexibility in design, without the limitations of off-the-shelf products. It's a straightforward philosophy: thoughtful design, sound materials, careful workmanship, and nothing more complicated than it needs to be.
Delivery and Installation
Once your acoustic treatments are ready, we'll bring them to your space and install them according to the agreed design.
Proper installation matters. Panel placement, mounting height, spacing, and orientation can all influence acoustic performance. We'll take care to position each treatment where it can do the most good, while respecting the room's appearance and everyday function. We use appropriate mounting methods for wall panels, ceiling clouds, and other treatments, with attention to secure attachment and a clean, professional finish. Our goal is to leave you with a room that looks considered, feels comfortable, and sounds noticeably better — without leaving you a pile of packaging or a list of unfinished tasks.
Post-Installation Acoustic Measurement and Analysis
How do we know the treatment is working? Whenever practical, we measure again.
By repeating our acoustic measurements after installation, we can compare the room's performance before and after treatment. This helps us evaluate changes in frequency response, decay times, and other characteristics relevant to the room's intended use. These comparisons can also reveal opportunities for small adjustments to panel placement or configuration. We'll explain the results in understandable terms, so you can appreciate not only what has changed, but why it matters. For us, the work isn't simply about installing acoustic treatment. It's about understanding the difference that treatment makes — and helping you hear that difference for yourself.
Not Sure Where to Begin?
You don't need a detailed plan or a technical understanding of acoustics.
Tell us about your room, how you use it, and what you'd like to improve. We'll help you figure out a sensible place to start.
Good work resonates. Your workspace doesn't have to.
“To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit.”
— Igor Stravinsky