Acoustic Solutions for Hospitality & Retail
In hospitality and retail, the atmosphere is everything. Noise levels that are too high can create a chaotic environment, making it difficult for customers to relax, enjoy their meals, or focus on their shopping experience. Poor acoustics can lead to customer dissatisfaction, reduced time spent in your space, and potentially lower sales.
At Acoustic Sound Products, we understand the importance of sound management in these environments. Our tailored acoustic solutions are designed to enhance sound quality, reduce unwanted noise, and create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere for both customers and staff.
Solutions We Offer
Restaurants and Cafes:
Managing Noise for a Better Dining Experience
Restaurants and cafes are vibrant social environments where noise levels can quickly escalate due to conversations, kitchen activity, and background music. Research shows that noise levels in such spaces can often reach 70-80 dBA, a range that can negatively affect patrons’ ability to converse comfortably and enjoy their dining experience. The Lombard effect, where patrons increase their speaking volume in response to ambient noise, often exacerbates this issue.
To manage these acoustic challenges, we recommend using Autex Quietspace Panels and Autex Cube Panels to absorb excess sound and reduce reverberation. Installing these panels on walls and ceilings helps control noise levels, creating a more intimate and comfortable dining environment. For larger dining areas or communal tables, incorporating Acoustic Lighting fixtures can further enhance noise management. These fixtures not only provide ambient lighting but are also designed to absorb sound, reducing noise levels around busy tables where conversations tend to be louder.
Hotels and Lobbies:
Creating Tranquil and Elegant Spaces
Hotel lobbies and common areas serve as the first impression for guests, and excessive noise from check-in counters, conversations, and foot traffic can detract from the desired calm and luxurious atmosphere. Effective acoustic management is crucial for maintaining a sense of tranquillity and elegance, which can significantly enhance guest satisfaction and encourage repeat visits.
For these settings, we recommend using Quietspace Acoustic Panels on walls and ceilings, and Frontier Acoustic Fins & Rafts on ceilings. These products provide excellent sound absorption, reducing ambient noise and echo, which helps to create a serene environment. In quieter zones like lounges and business centres within hotels, incorporating Autex Cube or Groove Wall panels can further enhance sound quality by reducing unwanted noise. These panels not only improve acoustics but also add a contemporary design element, making these spaces more inviting and comfortable for guests to relax or work.
Retail Stores:
Improving the Shopping Experience
In retail stores, noise from customer interactions, background music, and other activities can create a distracting environment, making it difficult for customers to focus on products and enjoy their shopping experience. According to industry guidelines, noise levels in retail settings should be managed to maintain a pleasant shopping environment, ideally keeping sound levels below 65 dBA to prevent stress and fatigue.
To improve acoustics, we recommend using sound absorbing Cube Acoustic Panels or Quietspace Panels on the walls and ceilings. These products effectively absorb noise, creating a more pleasant and inviting shopping environment. For high ceilings, Acoustic FIns and Rafts can be used to control sound and add a visually striking feature, enhancing both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the space. For stores with specific areas for customer interaction, such as fitting rooms or consultation zones, incorporating Quietform 3D Wall tiles can provide targeted sound absorption.
Licensed Venues:
Optimising Sound in Pubs and Bars
Licensed venues like pubs and bars are often bustling with activity, featuring live music, sporting events, and lively conversations. High noise levels, frequently exceeding 85 dBA, can cause discomfort, affect hearing, and make it challenging for patrons to communicate effectively.
To optimise sound in licensed venues, we recommend using Autex Quietspace Panels to absorb ambient noise and reduce reverberation. Installing these panels on walls and ceilings can help create a balanced acoustic environment, ensuring that music and conversations can be enjoyed without overwhelming background noise. For venues hosting live music or DJ events, Autex cube panels can be used to manage sound reflections and improve the overall acoustic quality. These panels offer effective sound control while adding a modern, stylish look to the space.
Features and Benefits
Enhanced Customer Experience:
By effectively reducing noise levels and improving sound quality, our acoustic solutions create a more comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere. Quieter environments encourage patrons to relax, enjoy their time, and engage in conversations without shouting, leading to higher customer.
Improved Speech Intelligibility:
In noisy settings like restaurants, pubs, and bars, clear communication is essential for both staff and patrons. Our acoustic products help control sound reflections and reduce reverberation, making it easier for conversations to be heard clearly.
Aesthetic Appeal:
Available in a wide range of colours, textures, and styles, our acoustic panels, tiles, and hanging solutions can be customised to complement the interior design of your space. Whether it’s creating a modern, sleek look in a high-end hotel lobby or adding visual interest to a casual cafe, our products enhance both the acoustics and the aesthetics of your venue.
Compliance with Noise Regulations:
Our acoustic solutions help licensed venues such as pubs and bars meet noise compliance standards, reducing the risk of noise complaints from neighbouring properties and ensuring a comfortable environment for patrons.
Flexible Installation Options:
Designed for easy installation, our acoustic products can be integrated into new builds or retrofitted into existing spaces with minimal disruption. Options like acoustic lighting and 3D wall tiles offer versatile solutions that can be tailored to specific areas, such as communal dining tables, bar areas, or checkout counters, providing targeted noise control where it’s needed most.
Durable and Sustainable Materials:
Made from high-quality, durable materials, our acoustic products are built to withstand the demands of busy hospitality and retail environments. Many of our products are also made from recycled materials, supporting sustainability initiatives and demonstrating a commitment to environmentally responsible practices.
Best Selling Products
Autex Quietspace Panels
Autex Quietspace Panels are a top choice for managing noise levels in busy hospitality and retail environments. These high-performance acoustic panels effectively absorb sound, reducing echo and reverberation, which helps to create a more comfortable and intimate atmosphere. Quietspace Panels can be installed on both walls and ceilings, offering versatile design options that blend seamlessly with the decor of restaurants, cafes, and hotels. To add a unique artistic touch, Quietspace Panels can be customised with prints from the Willie Weston Collection or the Emma Hayes Collection, featuring stunning designs that enhance both the aesthetic and acoustic qualities of the space.
Autex Cube Panels
Autex Cube Panels are ideal for retail stores and dining areas where noise control and visual appeal are essential. These lightweight, modular panels provide excellent sound absorption, helping to minimise background noise and create a more pleasant environment for customers. The versatility of Cube Panels allows for creative installations, such as geometric patterns or feature walls, that complement the branding and interior design of the venue. To further personalise the space, Cube Panels can be customised with artistic prints from the Willie Weston Collection or the Emma Hayes Collection, ensuring that the acoustic solutions aligns perfectly with your brand identity and aesthetic goals
3D Acoustic Wall Tiles
Autex 3D Acoustic Wall Tiles combine innovative design with outstanding acoustic performance, making them perfect for enhancing the acoustic environment of restaurants, bars, and retail spaces. These tiles feature three-dimensional patterns that not only absorb sound effectively but also serve as eye-catching design elements. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours, 3D Acoustic Wall Tiles can be customised to fit the specific aesthetic of any space, from trendy cafes to upscale hotel lobbies. Their unique design helps control sound reflections and adds a modern, stylish touch to the decor, making them a favourite among designers and business owners alike.
Acoustic Lighting Solutions
Acoustic Lighting Solutions provide a dual-purpose approach to noise management, combining effective sound absorption with functional lighting. These fixtures are perfect for use over communal dining tables, bar areas, or checkout counters, where noise levels can be higher. By integrating acoustic materials into lighting designs, these solutions help reduce noise while providing ambient light, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the space. Acoustic Lighting is available in various styles and finishes, making it easy to match the aesthetic needs of any hospitality or retail setting, while significantly improving the acoustic quality of the environment.
Our Commercial Projects
Transforming Dentifit Australia’s Showroom Acoustics
We recently completed a significant acoustic upgrade at Dentifit Australia’s showroom in Brisbane, addressing the challenges of excessive noise in the space. With glass walls, an open entry, and a hard gyprock ceiling, sound was bouncing around uncontrollably and transferring into nearby offices, disrupting the work environment. To address the issues, our team installed a series of targeted acoustic solutions that successfully reduced noise levels and improved the overall atmosphere of the space.
First Australian Installation of Autex Etch a Huge Success
Working with Sims White Architects, our expert installers produced a high quality finish to the entry and auditorium of this much-loved, heritage-listed building. This enhanced the building’s function for current and future civic use. The team worked with photos of the original structure and design to ensure the former colour and form were reproduced, match the original wall surface and reinstate the authentic look.
FAQs for Hospitality & Retail Spaces
Why is acoustic management important in hospitality and retail environments?
Effective acoustic management enhances customer comfort and satisfaction by reducing excessive noise levels, which can create a chaotic and stressful atmosphere. Good acoustics make conversations easier, improve the overall ambience, and encourage customers to spend more time in your space, leading to increased customer loyalty and higher sales.
What are the best acoustic solutions for noisy restaurants and cafes?
For restaurants and cafes, we recommend using Autex Quietspace Panels and Cube Panels to absorb excess noise and reduce reverberation. These panels can be installed on walls and ceilings to manage sound effectively, creating a more intimate and enjoyable dining experience. Adding custom or artist-printed designs, such as those from the Willie Weston or Emma Hayes Collections, can enhance the space’s aesthetic appeal.
Can acoustic products improve communication in retail stores?
Yes, acoustic products such as Autex 3D Acoustic Wall Tiles and Quietspace Panels help manage noise levels, making it easier for customers to focus on announcements, conversations, and background music. This not only improves the shopping experience but also enhances communication between sales staff and customers, leading to better customer service and satisfaction.
Are your acoustic solutions customisable to match our brand’s aesthetic?
Absolutely. Our acoustic products come in a variety of colours, textures, and styles. They can be customised with prints from our artist collections or your own designs and logos, allowing them to align perfectly with your brand identity and enhance the visual appeal of your hospitality or retail space.
How easy is it to install acoustic panels in existing hospitality or retail spaces?
Our acoustic panels are designed for easy installation and can be integrated into both new and existing spaces without major renovations. Products like Cube Panels and Quietspace Panels can be mounted directly on walls and ceilings, while Acoustic Lighting and Horizon Hanging Acoustics offer flexible installation options that provide effective noise control with minimal disruption.
What options are available for managing noise in pubs and bars?
For pubs and bars, we recommend a combination of Autex Quietspace Panels, Etch Acoustic Panels, and Acoustic Lighting. These solutions help absorb background noise, control sound levels during busy periods, and create a more pleasant environment for patrons. Customised designs can also be incorporated to reflect the venue’s style and branding, making these solutions both functional and visually appealing.
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How NRC Ratings can benefit you
In our fast-paced, noisy modern world, finding peace and quiet can feel like an impossible luxury. Distracting noises infiltrate our spaces, whether it’s from bustling open offices, to classrooms, halls, studios, podcast rooms, recording studios and loud venues such as pubs and clubs. The key metric that indicates how well a material soaks up or repels sound is called noise reduction coefficient (NRC).