Spacing a panel off the wall or ceiling moves it out towards the zone where low-frequency air movement is greatest. A 2 in panel with a 2–4 in gap absorbs noticeably more at 125–250 Hz than the same panel flat on the wall. Clouds and baffles get this effect automatically.
Learning center / Acoustics fundamentals
The air gap trick
How mounting panels off the surface improves bass absorption.
2 minute read · Updated Nov 2026