Cinema Acoustics: A Comprehensive Guide

The experience inside the cinema auditorium itself is arguably the highest priority across the entire complex. Regardless of how advanced the surround system is, if the cinema hall isn’t optimised with the use of acoustic insulation and absorption solutions, sound waves can off the floors, ceilings, and walls, and noise can leak from the adjacent spaces outside.

These disruptions can singlehandedly destroy the movie experience, defeating the purpose of any state-of-the-art surround sound technology.

Acoustic solutions can be selected in complementary colours and finishes to complete the desired design aesthetic. After all, for most cinema theatres, the dark ambiance is crucial to the experience.

• Rockfon Color-all®: Ceiling tiles that are available in Charcoal as well as 33 other colours such as Scarlet and Space. Matching matt suspension grids are also available.
• Rockfon Color-all® Grid: Available in 34 colours, Color-all has a textured surface that drastically reduces reflections that are found on metal surfaces by diffusing the light, suppressing the colour finish.
• Rockfon® VertiQ®: A wall panel that is highly sound-absorbent and impact-resistant, and that can be installed both vertically and horizontally. Available in four colours including Black.

Entrance and Box Office

There are instances where the entrance and box office areas witness high levels of noise, such as during weekend evening screenings or major film releases. Here, sound sources can include everything from laughter to loud conversations to children cries.

The experience quickly becomes uncomfortable if such sound sources aren’t controlled. For visitors, the first impression is quickly tarnished, and for box office staff, well-being deteriorates.

• Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic: The refined white surface provides high light reflection and light diffusion, ensuring even light distribution and reducing the need for artificial light.
• Rockfon Blanka®: Acoustic ceiling tiles that have a smooth, deep, matt, super-white surface with high light reflection and light diffusion. They’re designed to contribute to a noticeably brighter and more comfortable indoor environment with as much as 23 percent in energy savings.
• Rockfon Color-all®: Available in a concealed, semi-concealed and visible grid solution, in 34 exclusive colours, and a variety of tile sizes, granting total design freedom.

Concession Stands and Lounges

It’s not difficult to imagine the chaos that is likely to ensue at the lounges and concession areas when the doors to the biggest film release of the season open.

Noise can’t always be regulated when large groups congregate in a single space, but floor plans and acoustic solutions can minimise the discomfort to make the pre-film experience much more enjoyable for all.

An aspect to note is that hygiene is a priority in any areas that have food preparation, and the concession stands are no exception. The materials used in such areas should resist the accumulation of microorganisms as well as the frequent use of harsh cleaning materials.

• Rockfon Blanka®: Acoustic ceiling tiles that have a smooth, deep, matt, super-white surface with high light reflection and light diffusion. They’re designed to contribute to a noticeably brighter and more comfortable indoor environment with as much as 23 percent in energy savings.
• Rockfon® Universal® Baffles: Suitable for exposed soffits, baffles are the perfect solution to improve speech intelligibility. They allow for multiple suspension design possibilities and are available in 33 contemporary colours.
• Rockfon Eclipse®: These frameless and innovative acoustic islands are available in a variety of geometric shapes offering excellent sound absorption. They can be suspended from an exposed soffit, or installed underneath a traditional acoustic ceiling.  

Corridors

These circulation spaces share walls with cinema auditoriums, so efforts to prevent noise leakage are essential.

Sound absorption and sound insulation work together hand-in-hand. An acoustic ceiling with high sound absorption allows for lower sound pressure, which decreases the amount of sound transmitted to the adjacent space. With insulation, the sound transmission is lowered even further to enhance the overall acoustic performance.

• Rockfon Blanka®: Acoustic ceiling tiles that have a smooth, deep, matt, super-white surface with high light reflection and light diffusion.
• Rockfon Color-all®: Available in concealed, semi-concealed, and visible grid solutions and in a variety of tile sizes, granting total design freedom.
• Rockfon Eclipse® wall panel: These architecturally-friendly, frameless acoustic wall islands are perfect for dynamic open atria that witness excess verbal communication.

Toilets

Because of their ease of cleaning and durability, hard surfaces like ceramic and metals are necessary in restrooms. Their use, however, causes sound to reverberate and they’re one of the biggest threats to acoustic comfort.

And unlike other spaces in the theatre complex, it is never recommended to choose soft materials for flooring in commercial bathrooms.

To help offset such limitations, it’s important to look for an acoustic ceiling solution that will not only dampen sound reflection, but also withstand such a humid environment, resist the spread of microorganisms, and handle regular janitorial services.  

• Rockfon Blanka®: Acoustic ceiling tiles with smooth, deep, matte, and super-white surfaces, high light reflection, and light diffusion.
• Rockfon CleanSpace™ Essential: a cost-friendly and long-lasting ceiling tile solution that fulfils the highest demands in terms of cleanliness but it also has enhanced acoustic properties, contributing to a healthy indoor environment.
• Rockfon Koral®: A multi-purpose tile available in an attractive white, micro-textured surface and a selection of edges and dimensions.