PolyFlex Diffusers

NEW PolyFlex Mobile

Multiple PolyFlex Nested for storage

Metal PolyFlex

PETG PolyFlex

Made by hand in Ohio
Lab-tested, cost-effective
Simple to Install
Use on walls, ceiling or behind stretch-fabric systems
Can offer either horizontal or vertical scattering
Improve tonality and clarity
Improve soundstage, air and spatial imaging
Improve surround sound envelopment
Control first order reflections
Eliminate flutter echo

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PolyFlex Diffusers

PolyFlex Diffusers are 1D diffusers, meaning they will scatter either horizontally or vertically, depending on orientation. Combine both for full hemispheric scattering. Available in a 100% clear Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG), or a dark neutral grey (as shown) paintable 20 gauge metal with a damping sheet applied to the back to eliminate resonance.

Why Diffusion?

Frequency and spatial irregularities are especially problematic in small rooms such as recording studios and listening rooms. Adding diffusion to the room is almost always beneficial. Acoustic diffusion is used to remove hard, specular room reflections that interfere with the direct sound of the loudspeakers, and to enhance the environment by making it sound larger, more articulate and/or lively.

New PolyFlex Mobile

H 51"/129.5cm, W 24"/61cm, D 12"/30.5cm, 8lbs/3.62kg.

Allows you to customize your soundstage width and/or depth.
Feet slip off and frames nest for easy storage.
Cable pass through under frame (3") and feet (1.5"). Short rear feet allows placement 5" from wall.
Solid wood furniture quality frames made of Ash, Cherry, White Oak, Walnut or Maple.
Custom height, stain matching, grain matching, etc. available upon request.

PolyFlex balloon dispersion results at 1 kHz.

What is unique about the acoustic performance of the PolyFlex compared to other diffusers?

Adjustable 2”-4” depth for randomization (no frequency lobing), or fine-tuning
Minimum uniform dispersion of 150° of horizontal or vertical scattering (wider than any other type)
Effective from about 630 Hz. and up (broad frequency bandwidth and no high frequency limit)
No high frequency limit, even when off-axis (never casts a shadow upon itself)
Effective even at 90 degrees off axis
No theoretical listening distance required (as number-theory type diffusers have)
Remains phase coherent, unlike number-theory diffusers.
Though the PolyFlex is a pure diffuser on its own, the open sides can be loosely filled with insulation to add absorption properties

NWAA Acoustics Lab 1 kHz. Side or X view Polar Plot Results

NWAA Acoustics Lab 1 kHz. Plan or Z view Polar Plot Results

NWAA Acoustics Lab 1 kHz. Top or Y view Polar Plot Results

NWAA Acoustics Lab 1 kHz. 3D View Polar Plot Results

"NWAA Surface Reflection Test Report for the PolyFlex Diffuser"

Read

Number theory diffusers are expensive and difficult to build. They are also very limited in performance. For example; common QRD or skyline-type diffusers are diffractive diffusers. The different length wells or blocks reflect at different phase points. This phase scrambling removes localization. They are also typically limited to 4kHz. - 16kHz.

If a skyline-type diffuser uses blocks that have a 2" reflective face, it can only reflect wavelengths that are smaller than that dimension, meaning it is only effective down to about 6.7kHz. It will also block itself to sound sources and receivers that are off-axis, is ineffective when too close to a receiver, and if one dimension is slightly off in build or calculation, it doesn't work at all!

The PolyFlex Diffusers are very effective at dispersing sound and remains phase coherent. They offer wider frequency bandwidth, and smoother and wider off axis scattering than any other type of diffuser. They also have no minimum seating distance (convergence point), as do grating number-theory (well or skyline) type diffusers.

A single PolyFlex Diffuser can be used at a single listener reflection point, or multiple diffusers can be used to cover larger listening areas.

Multiple PolyFlex Diffusers- It is good practice, when using polycylindrical diffusers, to avoid mounting four or more together with the same orientation, depth and spacing. Doing so can create repeated constructive and destructive energies at particular frequencies (lobing). Changing the spacing, depths and/or orientations will prevent such conditions.

The above configuration of four PolyFlex Diffusers can offer 2-D hemispheric scattering. This job shows them primer-painted to be concealed with our FRP stretch-fabric panel system.

Painted PolyFlex Diffusers mounted near corner and behind

floor standing electrostatic loudspeakers

The PolyFlex Diffuser can easily be fastened on walls and ceilings using drywall screws. They can also be concealed under stretch-fabric systems. They are typically used to control first order reflections, enhance surround sound envelopment, control flutter echoes, and/or to add more aural openness and sparkle to the space.

PolyFlex Diffusers can add sonic spaciousness to the room, air around the instruments, timbre accuracy and/or widen the soundstage. They also improve clarity in speech and spatial focus without making the room sound dead and/or small. PolyFlex diffusers can also be used at reflection points in place of typical absorbers when room reverberation times are already low. Once the reverberation times of the room are under control, it would be very difficult to have too much diffusion added to the room.

Acoustical PolyFlex Specifications:

Effective Frequency Range- 630 Hz. on up

Effective Coverage of incident Angles- >150°

PETG PolyFlex Specifications:

Dimensions-

23.5” x 23.5” x 2-4”

(59.7 x 59.7 x 7.6-12.7 cm)

Weight- 3.1 lbs (1.4 Kg)

Made in USA

Metal PolyFlex Specifications:

Dimensions-

22” x 22” x 2-4”

(56 x 56 x 7.6-12.7 cm)

Weight- 3.6 lbs (1.6 Kg)

Made in USA

PolyFlex Installation Guide

Finding First Order Reflection Points

You will need an assistant, a flat hand-mirror, and masking tape.

First order reflections are geometric relations that can be drawn between the source drivers, the room boundaries, and the listener. There is a first order reflection for each speaker, on all six surfaces of the room. With one person seated in the listening position and another person at the boundary surface of interest holding the mirror flat against the surface at about tweeter height, run the mirror around until the listener sees the tweeter centered on the mirror. Mark this spot with tape. That is the first reflection point on that surface, for that speaker. Repeat this process for the other speaker on the same surface. Repeat for the other surfaces of interest. Typically, you want to orient the diffuser to scatter sound horizontally in the room, but when using at a wall/ceiling or wall/floor junction, you may want to scatter up and down. On the ceiling, you typically scatter front and back.