Acoustic Panels — Buy or Rent
OPEN-BACK DESIGN Every panel has an air gap behind it, not a sealed back — the construction choice that gives better low-frequency absorption. See why it matters ↓
Studio 12 builds its own acoustic sound panels for home studios, stages and event spaces. Each one is a solid-wood frame around a stone-wool acoustic core, fabric-wrapped by hand on both the front and back — buy them outright or rent for an event. 2″ panels are $200 each, 3″ $235 and 4″ $285.
Built locally in Saskatoon, to order — one panel or a dozen, no minimum.
Sizes & pricing
| Panel size | Core thickness | Total depth (with frame) | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2′ × 4′ | 2" | 3.5" | $200 per panel | In stock |
| 2′ × 4′ | 3" | 4.5" | $235 per panel | Last one in stock |
| 2′ × 4′ | 4" (two stacked 2" cores) | 5.5" | $285 per panel | Out of stock — next panels in production |
Buy exactly what you need — a single panel or a full room's worth, with no minimum order. Need a larger quantity? Call (306) 955-6121 or email admin@s12.ca.
Installation is available and quoted individually based on the space — no flat install fee is listed here.
Local pickup and delivery in Saskatoon only; we do not ship. See our return policy and terms.
Closed back vs. open back —
absorption path (animated concept)
The Theory Two 2" panels, closed vs. open back, each hit by the same three frequency bands, all three firing together on each loop rather than taking turns. High frequency is absorbed right at the front face in both panels — the backing doesn't change anything up there. Mid and low frequency behave very differently: in the closed panel they reflect almost immediately off the panel's own solid back and exit only partly faded, back into the room. In the open-back panel, with the frame open and an air gap to the real wall, the same waves travel all the way to the wall before reflecting — crossing the absorptive core twice end to end instead of once. Low frequency still exits, badly faded; mid frequency is shown fully spent by the time it crosses back — it fades out right at the core, never re-emerging into the room at all.
What the outside sources actually say: ATS Acoustics' own write-up on open-back bass traps explains that fabric backs "instead of wood… so the air gap can work" create "a node at the wall," placing the absorbent material closer to an "anti-node… at low frequencies," and recommends mounting "across a corner or with an air gap behind the panel" for best low-frequency results. GIK Acoustics' own mounting guide separately states that "leaving a small air gap (2–4in) behind the panel can increase low-frequency performance." Neither source publishes test data or an NRC number for this specific comparison, and neither one draws a closed-vs-open-back picture like the one above — so the fade amounts and the three-band split drawn here are our own illustrative interpretation, not measured or sourced directly from either company.
Sources: ATS Acoustics, "Open Back Bass Traps" · GIK Acoustics, "How to Hang Acoustic Panels"
How they're built
Each panel is built around a 2″ SPF (spruce/pine/fir) solid-wood frame holding a ROCKWOOL Fabrock stone-wool acoustic core, then wrapped in speaker cloth on both the front and back — fully upholstered, not just the face. There's no rigid backing board behind the core, and panels hang from steel wire for a clean, removable mount. Our standard size is2′ × 4′, and our standard covering is speaker cloth; a Guilford of Maine FR701 facing is available as a special order in additional colours and at special pricing.
What's inside
We name the exact material inside every panel: ROCKWOOL's Fabrock stone-wool insulation, the same family of material used in professional sound panels, drum booths and acoustic doors — backed by ROCKWOOL's own published ratings below, not a vague description.
Fire resistant
Non-combustible (CAN/ULC S114), with a flame spread and smoke developed rating of 0 (ASTM E84, CAN/ULC S102).
Sound absorbent
A dense, non-directional stone-wool structure engineered for sound dampening across a wide range of frequencies — NRC 1.00 at 2″, 1.10 at 3″, 1.05 at 4″ (Fabrock LT, ASTM C423).
Water repellent
Repels moisture rather than absorbing it, and resists mould and fungal growth.
These figures describe ROCKWOOL's published ratings for the Fabrock core material, not an independent test of our finished, fabric-wrapped panel.
Technical specs
Panel construction
| Face size | 2′ × 4′ (24″ × 48″) standard |
|---|---|
| Core thickness | 2", 3", or 4" (two stacked 2" cores) |
| Total depth | 3.5″, 4.5″ or 5.5″ (core plus 1.5″ frame) |
| Frame | 2″ SPF (spruce/pine/fir) solid-wood frame, screwed and square |
| Sides | 3/8″ plywood, glued and stapled, outer corners rounded over |
| Covering | Speaker cloth on front and back (Guilford of Maine FR701 by special order) |
| Back | Open back — no rigid backing board; back fabric contains the core |
| Mounting | Steel wire hang for a vertical, removable mount |
Sound absorption — Fabrock LT core (ASTM C423)
| Core thickness | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 4000 Hz | NRC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2" | 0.26 | 0.68 | 1.14 | 1.13 | 1.06 | 1.07 | 1.00 |
| 3" | 0.62 | 1.03 | 1.20 | 1.10 | 1.08 | 1.10 | 1.10 |
| 4" | 1.07 | 1.01 | 1.07 | 1.06 | 1.07 | 1.06 | 1.05 |
Thicker cores absorb much more low-frequency sound: at 125 Hz the 4″ core absorbs about four times what the 2″ core does (1.07 vs 0.26). NRC averages only 250–2000 Hz, so it understates that bass advantage.
Core material — ROCKWOOL Fabrock LT
| Property | Rating | Test standard |
|---|---|---|
| Core material | ROCKWOOL Fabrock™ LT — semi-rigid stone wool board | — |
| Density | 3.5 lb/ft³ (56 kg/m³) | ASTM C303 |
| Thermal resistance | R-4.1 per inch (RSI 0.72 per 25.4 mm) | ASTM C518 |
| Fire — surface burning | Flame spread 0, smoke developed 0 | ASTM E84 (UL 723), CAN/ULC S102 |
| Fire — combustibility | Non-combustible | CAN/ULC S114, ASTM E136 |
| Moisture sorption | 0.03% by weight | ASTM C1104 |
| Mould / fungi | Passed — zero growth | ASTM C1338 |
All acoustic, fire and moisture figures are ROCKWOOL's published results for the Fabrock LT core material (Fabrock LT data sheet, PDF), not an independent test of our finished, fabric-wrapped panel. ROCKWOOL does not state the mounting used in its absorption tests, and our 4″ panel stacks two 2″ cores while the 4″ row above was measured on a single 4″ board. Absorption values can exceed 1.00 in laboratory testing. Real-room results depend on mounting, air gap and placement.
Rent for an event
Need panels for a single show or a short-term setup rather than buying? We rent our acoustic panels for events, performances and temporary installs. Rental terms and pricing are still being finalized — contact us for current availability.
Ask about rentingAcoustic panel FAQ
How much do the acoustic panels cost?
Our 2″ panels are $200 each, 3″ panels are $235 and 4″ panels are $285. Need a larger order? Contact us for a quote.
Can I rent panels instead of buying?
Yes. We rent panels for shows, events and short-term sessions. Rental rates are still being finalized, so contact us for current availability and pricing.
What are Studio 12 acoustic panels made of?
Each panel starts with a solid-wood frame around a ROCKWOOL Fabrock™ stone-wool acoustic core, wrapped in speaker cloth on both the front and back. Our standard covering is speaker cloth; a Guilford of Maine FR701 facing is available as a special order in additional colours.
Are the panels fire safe?
The Fabrock stone-wool core is rated non-combustible, with a flame spread and smoke developed rating of 0. That's the manufacturer's rating for the core material itself, not an independent certification of the finished, fabric-wrapped panel.
What are the technical specs and absorption ratings?
Our core is ROCKWOOL Fabrock™ LT stone wool (3.5 lb/ft³). ROCKWOOL's published ASTM C423 results for that material give an NRC of 1.00 at 2″, 1.10 at 3″ and 1.05 at 4″, and 1.07 absorption at 125 Hz for the 4″ board versus 0.26 for 2″. Those are the manufacturer's ratings for the core material, not an independent test of the finished panel. Full tables are in the Technical specs section above.
How do I order or book a rental?
Call (306) 955-6121 or email admin@s12.ca with how many panels, what size, and whether it's a purchase or rental.
Order or ask a question
Call (306) 955-6121 or email admin@s12.ca. Office visits by appointment only.